Pagasa maintains there were enough weather advisories

Enough advisories were issued before the onslaught of Tropical Storm Enteng, officials of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration asserted yesterday.

- BELLA CARIASO

PAGASA was reacting to a Facebook post by Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda criticizing the weather bureau for its alleged failure to provide enough warning to local government units (LGUs).

At a press conference, PAGASA administrator Nathaniel Servando disclosed that the weather bureau still implements the "PAR plus five" rule, in which warnings are issued in specific areas in case a weather disturbance develops outside the Philippine area of responsibility.

"Of course, we respect the comment of honorable Congressman Salceda through Facebook. It is correct, we implement the PAR plus five, meaning, our Philippine area of responsibility is expanded by about five degrees so that in case a typhoon develops outside the PAR, we can issue tropical cyclone advisories bulletin," Servando explained.

In his Facebook post, Salceda wrote: "PAGASA sleeping on the job risking lives. How can we realize or be informed that there is a possible TC (tropical cyclone), TD (tropical depression), LPA (low-pressure area) in less than 12 hours.