By CARMELA FONBUENA
abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak
Congressmen today scolded Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) director Prisco Nilo for failure to procure five Doppler radars, which are believed to have enabled the weather agency to better predict typhoon movements and prevented the sinking of Suplicio Lines MV Princess of the Stars and other tragedies brought by Typhoon Frank.
Since 2005, Congress has been allotting budget for Pagasa to procure the radars. According to Rep. Edcel Lagman, Pagasa was already given an accumulated budget of P500 million. “They do not procure the necessary equipment…. We need very badly these Doppler radars. We could have avoided so much destruction,” Lagman added.
When asked if the radars would have prevented the sinking of MV Princess of the Stars, Nilo answered, “We can't say that now.” He hastened to add that, “The signals we raised already consider possible deviations in movement.”
Doppler radars predict the amount of rainfall and where possible tornadoes may develop. These radars are supposed to be placed in Subic and Tagaytay in Luzon, Cebu in the Visayas, and Surigao del Sur and Tampacan in Mindanao .
Nilo said four biddings conducted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) have failed because of problems with the bidders’ eligibility. But Lagman said, “The main objections are coming from Pagasa…. They are requiring specifications not in original requirements.”
Nilo assured congressmen they will soon award the project to bidders.
According to Lagman, Congress allotted P149 million, P200 million, and P85 million from the 2005 and 2007 General Appropriations Act, and the 2007 Calamity fund respectively.
“The pulse of the people in my district is that Pagasa was really negligent,” added Iloilo Rep. Neil Tupas. Iloilo belongs to the island chain of western Visayas, which was the hardest hit by Typhoon Frank. The region was unable to prepare for the typhoon because Pagasa belatedly issued the typhoon warning.
“Pagasa doesn’t seem to be a reliable source,” added Negros Rep. Jocelyn Sy Limkaichong. Many of Negros ’s fishermen were victims of Typhoon Frank.
The House of Representatives today launched its public hearings on the sea tragedy that involved 866 passengers. Based on the latest figures of the National Disaster Coordinating Council, 173 are confirmed dead while 56 are known to have survived. The rest remains unaccounted for, believed to have been trapped inside the capsized ferry.
Typhoon Frank's irregular movement
Typhoon Frank had an irregular movement that surprised even Pagasa. The Japan weather bureau earlier forecast that it will not hit land. It was only when the typhoon got closer to the Philippines that Pagasa issued the typhoon signal. Even when it hit land, typhoon Frank continued to change directions.
It resulted in situations where Typhoon Frank surprisingly hit areas that were unable to prepare and missed areas that were issued a storm signal. Iloilo and Aklan provinces of western Visayas suffered what is believed to be the worst typhoon that hit the region in recent years. Flashfloods reached as high as a two-story houses. Up to now, several towns are still under mud.
On the other hand, several towns in Bicol region--which were able to evacuate its residents--had to decamp after learning that the typhoon shifted course and missed them.
Delayed warnings
Senior deputy minority leader Roilo Golez also scolded Pagasa for the long intervals of bulletin warning during the typhoon.
He cited Pagasa bulletin warnings numbered seven and eight, which were timed 4:45 p.m. and 11 p.m. respectively. The first warning showed that typhoon Frank was going northwest from the Visayas, missing Romblon island where MV Princess of the Stars sank. The latter report showed that the typhoon changed course and Pagasa raised signal number 2 in Romblon island.
“Why is it that it took Pagasa six hours to update its bulletin?,” Golez asked.
Golez said it is possible that it was Pagasa’s bulletin number seven that the captain of MV Princess of the Stars saw before he sailed and that he may have missed the eighth bulletin, which was issued six hours later. “[The sea tragedy] may have been avoided if there were more frequent bulletins,” Golez said.
In response, Nilo said, “it is very difficult” for Pagasa to issue bulletins, say, every three hours like the Japanese weather bureau does. “We are not fully automated like Japan ,” Nilo said.
Nilo said Pagasa’s automation is also “forthcoming.” He said they will need a funding of up to P200 billion to fully automate.
Coast Guard’s fault?
Akbayan Rep. Risa Hontiveros, on the other hand, blamed the Philippine Coat Guard (PCG) for the sea tragedy.
“Sulpicio Lines carried its passengers to their death, but PCG also made horrendous errors and violations of its policies that could have prevented this tragedy,” she said. “The PCG, through Commander Balagtas and Commodore Tuason, should have immediately plotted the danger sector, an area which defines where a typhoon may pass during the next 48 hours. All ships are prohibited from sailing in to the danger sector, except to take shelter. MV Princess of the Stars was bound towards Danger sector, and yet PCG allowed it to sail,” Hontiveros said.
It was established during the hearing that the PCG has the mandate to stop ships from sailing, based on their interpretation of warning signals from Pagasa. Rep. Rufus Rodriguez said even if MV Princess of the Stars already sailed, the PCG should have been able to stop it midway. “It could have taken shelter in an island nearby,” he said.
But PCG chief Vice Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said, “There’s no way to communicate with the master of the ship. We have the two-way VHF radio, which is limited. It does work but there are areas that cannot be reached because of distance.”
Undersecretary for maritime transport Elena Bautista told the congressman that a grant from JICA will provide the communication system.