Should public know when cyclone is in PAR? Science chief tells why

In the wake of a viral social media post on why the media should not report typhoons entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility or PAR, Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum weighed in on why tropical cyclones still hundreds of kilometers away should be relayed to the public.

“Kahit malayo pa siya sa Pilipinas, pwede na siya makaapekto sa pamamagitan ng mga malalakas na hangin o di kaya malalakas na ulan,” Secretary Renato Solidum told GMA News Online. 

(Even though a typhoon is still far from the Philippines, it can already have an effect through strong winds or rains.) 

PAGASA said the eastern boundary of the PAR is several hundred kilometers away from the nearest coastline in the eastern part of the country and completely encloses the East Philippine Sea. The western boundary of the PAR is closer to the coastline.

Most tropical cyclones that enter the PAR come from the eastern side.

"If a tropical cyclone is present inside these domains, PAGASA is obliged to provide information about the weather disturbance to the public," PAGASA said.

"Because most tropical cyclones come from the broad expanse of ocean east of the country, the eastern boundary of each domain is farther from the Philippine Islands than the western boundary," it added.

Film director Jason Paul Laxamana has drawn mixed reactions after he posted on social media that typhoons entering the PAR “shouldn’t be announced as news.” 

“Kasi it causes confusion/panic to regular people who assume that PAR = landfall. Pang meteorologist lang dapat ang info na iyon,” Laxamana said in a post on October 26. 

While some agreed with his sentiments, others called him out. But Laxamana stood firm with his statement. 

“Good (mass) communication is not about dumping technical info on people,” he said in another post on October 27. “It requires digesting of specialized info so they can make better and more informed decisions and responses.” 

“I stand by it. Weather news that is relevant to the common tao is landfall, typhoon strength, rains, and floods,” said Laxamana. “It entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility - an imaginary zone covered by PH meteorologists doesn’t mean anything yet. It only means binabantayan na ng weatherman.” 

“'Di porke binabantayan ay may epektong direkta sa Pilipinas,” he added. 

(It doesn’t mean that it is being monitored, it will have a direct impact on the Philippines.) 

Solidum indicated that the information was meant to give the public an early warning as a tropical cyclone approaches.

“Kailangan mabigyan ng early warning ang mga kababayan. Iyang early warning, hindi pa magla-landfall, binibigay na natin yung posibleng maging epekto ng bagyo at in reality, yung landfall lang naman ay pinagu-usapan kung dumating na yun sentro ng bagyo,” he added. 

(It’s important to give people an early warning. Before it makes landfall, we should inform them of the possible effects of the typhoon. We only discuss the landfall if the center of the typhoon already entered.) 

“Dapat mabigyan ng sapat na panahon ng local government ang mga tao na maghanda. Kasi marami kasing paghahanda na gagawin ang local government,” Solidum also said. “Hindi yung nandiyan na yung bagyo, tsaka maghahanda.” 

(The local government should give people enough time to prepare. It takes time for the local government to prepare for typhoons. It’s wrong if we will only prepare once the typhoon has already made landfall.)