Malaca?ang is set to review the country's weather forecasting system after President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III admonished the state weather bureau for failing to predict that Typhoon Basyang, internationally codenamed Conson, was headed for Metro Manila. Aquino told reporters at Camp Aguinaldo that he wants more “precision” in the way the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) predicts weather movements. The Pagasa weather bulletin Tuesday said Basyang would batter Northern and Central Luzon areas, and listed Metro Manila among the areas that would be under Storm Signal No. 1, with 30 to 60 kilometers-per-hour winds. However, the storm hit the metropolis before dawn Wednesday, cutting off power supply in most areas. “Changes should be known to the public at the earliest possible time,” said Aquino, adding that delays in weather forecast advisories slow down government response. Aquino earlier reprimanded Pagasa for failing to announce that the typhoon would hit hard Metro Manila. Aquino said there should also be improvements in the dissemination of information, such as finding ways to inform small-time fishermen who cannot afford radio equipment if there have been changes in the weather so they can immediately go back to shore. “We will review everything. Everything that's being done by man can be improved, so we will do our best to improve the government's actions,” the President said. In reaction to the “reprimand” it got from the president, Pagasa said it was more of a “reminder” rather than a rebuke. Pagasa's Prisco Nilo said Aquino's comments during a briefing Wednesday morning on the effects of the cyclone was aimed to improve government's disaster preparedness, response and mitigation. “The President did not get mad. He merely made a comment so we can improve. That was his point,” Nilo said at a press conference, when asked about the supposed scolding from Aquino. “Ge asked us what we needed. He merely said this must not happen again. He was not mad,” he added. He said Aquino wanted to improve the accuracy of Pagasa's forecasting capability, adding that one of the first things they will improve is the telecommunications system the weather bureau is using. According to Nilo, the system should be ready for automated transmission of information. In the same media interview at Camp Aguinaldo, Aquino was not sure whether the changes in the weather forecasting system he had in mind include an increased budget for disaster response. Asked whether the budget would be raised, Aquino said he would still wait for the Department of Budget and Management's assessment. But Aquino stressed that the government is taking a “proactive” stance on disaster management, saying Cabinet members such as Defense Secretary Voltaire Gazmin, Social Welfare Secretary Corazon “Dinky” Soliman, and Energy Secretary Jose Rene Almendras were dedicated to their duties. Soliman announced last week that the government is already preparing for possible disasters. She said they have identified high-risk areas, set aside initial standby funds, and deployed relief items to evacuation areas. Meralco, the country's largest power distributor, said earlier that power will be restored in most of Metro Manila by the end of the day. Last year, Tropical Storm Ondoy and Typhoon Pepeng ravaged much of Luzon, causing deaths, month-long floods in some areas in Metro Manila, and billions of pesos worth in damage to property. Aquino has vowed that his administration will take proactive measures to prevent a repeat of the impact of last year's cyclones.
