Upon the advice of the Municipal Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (MDRRMO) and based on the weather advisory issued by PAGASA predicting moderate to heavy rainfall over Catanduanes from Sunday night (Nov. 10, 2024) to Monday evening (Nov. 11), Virac Mayor Sammy Laynes issued a memorandum suspending classes in all levels in the capital town last Monday.
In Weather Advisory No. 9 and 10, PAGASA had included Catanduanes among several provinces that could have 50 to 100 mm of precipitation last Monday, but ultimately dropped the island from the list in the succeeding weather advisory issued at 8 AM.
By that time, the sun was shining, there was no raincloud overhead and it was already too late to lift the suspension.
The national weather agency appears to be reacting rather badly to criticisms that it failed to warn the people effects of past weather disturbances, especially the torrential rains and subsequent flooding brought by “Kristine.”
For the second straight time, it raised Public Storm Warning Signal No. 1 over Catanduanes, with storm “Nika” still over 1,000 kilometers away, resulting in the cancellation of ferry trips to and from the island.
The initial bulletin predicted rough seas of up to 3 meters for the northern and eastern seaboard of Catanduanes, and none for the western seaboard where the RORO ships could have made at least a day of travel with 36 hours of lead time before the storm approached the region near enough to bring wind and rain.
Local government units are mandated to heed the recommendations in the PAGASA Tropical Cyclone Warnings and Weather Advisories but should also consider forecasts of international weather agencies.
For the Nov. 11, 2024 precipitation, for example, one popular online weather website forecast only 3.5 mm of rain for Catanduanes, which is far from the 50-100 mm prognosticated by PAGASA.
The suspension of classes based on weather forecasts is a tricky decision for DDRM offices and local chief executives, as one based on erroneous data would lead to learning loss among pupils and students and reduced income for the transport sector, among others.
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The officer-in-charge of the PAGASA Southern Luzon Regional Services Division is a Viracnon, Allan Almojuela from barangay San Pedro.
Now in his mid-50s, Almojuela worked at the central office before being assigned in Bicol in October 2023.
According to him, the rehabilitation of the Buenavista Doppler Radar Station in Bato remains on the wish list of the weather agency and its officials are praying that the Senate would include in the budget the P150 million required for its restoration.
A check of the General Appropriations Bill approved by the House of Representatives shows no specific allocation for the Doppler radar.
In contrast, Catanduanes Congressman Eulogio Rodriguez proposed over P1.56 billion for flood control projects in the province for 2025.
On the other hand, OIC Almojuela reported that the idled Agojo Coastal Radar Station in San Andres is scheduled for repair this month by PAGASA’s service provider.
Since it was completed, the station has not been operational for lack of telecommunications signal and the genset damaged by super typhoon Rolly.
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TEACHER: If you had one dollar and you asked your father for another, how many dollars would you have?
VINCENT: One dollar
TEACHER (sadly): You don’t know your arithmetic.
VINCENT (sadly): You don’t know my father.