Philippines Facing Fewer But More Intense Storms, Weather Agency Warns

MANILA, Nov 23 (Bernama-PNA) – The Philippines has experienced fewer but more intense storms in recent years, the country’s weather bureau said on Saturday, according to the Philippine News Agency (PNA).

Attributing this phenomenon to global warming, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) said the country should expect this trend to continue in the coming years.

“Based on historical records, there is a decreasing trend in the frequency of tropical cyclones in our area, but an increasing trend in the number of typhoons that are becoming more intense,” PAGASA Climate Monitoring and Prediction Chief Dr. Ana Liza Solis said during a media workshop on disaster communications organised by the Presidential Communications Office.

The Philippines experienced an annual average of 19 to 20 tropical cyclones over the past 10 years, Solis said. However, this is now rarely the case.

“This means that, historically, we have had many typhoons and super typhoons. The trend indicates that our typhoons and super typhoons are likely becoming more intense,” she added.

With this trend likely to persist amid the increasing severity of climate change, Solis emphasised the need to prepare and develop a long-term adaptation strategy.

“We need to adapt and be resilient because it will inevitably come. We need to cope with it,” she told the Philippine News Agency in a separate interview.

The Marcos administration has been developing strategies to address the long-term impact of climate-related disasters. These include key government projects such as flood control mitigation structures, the construction of irrigation systems, and rehabilitation initiatives for major river basins and dams.

The country suffered numerous casualties and billions of pesos in property damage when six tropical cyclones struck several provinces within two months, culminating in Super Typhoon Pepito, which hit Luzon the hardest.

--BERNAMA-PNA