The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) responded to the call of Sen. Francis Tolentino for the agency to deliver more precise and specific weather forecasts.
Tolentino, particularly, urged PAGASA to specify the amount of rainfall that every location will experience.
The senator made the comments after learning that 20 people, including 15 minors, perished in Talisay, Batangas due to a landslide caused by Severe Tropical Storm Kristine.
Dr. Nathaniel Servando, administrator of PAGASA, insisted on Thursday, October 31, that the forecasters of the agency provided enough information to the public during the onslaught of STS Kristine.
"I think hindi naman kami siguro nagkulang siguro sa pagbibigay ng enough information particularly sa possible amount of rainfall na may trigger floods and landslides in a particular area," Servando said during DZRH's Dos Por Dos.
Servando also stressed that other agencies, including the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB), provide data on the susceptibility of an area to floods and landslides.
"The susceptibility of an area to these hazards, referring to floods and landslides, ay hindi lang naman rainfall but there are other factors katulad ng land use or developments along the slopes," he explained.
The PAGASA official clarified that the agency respects the comments made by Tolentino.
Servando said that PAGASA feels grateful to the support shown by Tolentino in the Congress, particularly in increasing tbe budget of the agency.
"Kami naman, being in public service, we are open to comments," Servando said.
"We treat or view this comments constructively upang tignan kung kami ay nagkulang or saan banda kami nagkulang para mapaigting pa lalo ang aming serbisyo," he added.
