The state weather bureau said yesterday there is a high chance – or a 74-percent probability – that a weak La Niña would develop between now and January and that the country could experience one to two tropical cyclones in December.
“La Niña alert persists, with La Niña-like conditions currently prevailing in the tropical Pacific,” an official of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said in a forum.
Climate monitoring and prediction section chief Ana Solis said the weak La Niña is forecast to persist until the first quarter of 2025, while a full-blown La Niña is unlikely at this point,
Solis also said some areas in the country would experience near to above normal rainfall in December, mostly in the eastern section of the country.
Generally, near to above normal rainfall is also forecast in January, particularly in the Bicol region and Eastern Visayas, as well as portions of Mimaropa and Southern Luzon.
Meanwhile, a total of nine deaths have been reported due to Nika, Ofel, and Pepito, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC).
In Ambaguio, Nueva Vizcaya, seven people, including an 8-year-old child, were killed in a landslide caused by Super Typhoon Pepito. Another death was reported in Daet, Camarines Norte, but the Office of Civil Defense (OCD) clarified that it was due to a vehicular accident, not a cyclone.
Additionally, four individuals are still missing, and 16 others have been injured. The storms have affected over 3 million people, or 820,000 families, across 34 provinces.
A total of 442,857 people have been displaced, with more than 2,000 still residing in evacuation centers. The damage caused by the storms is estimated at P1.5 billion for infrastructure and P8.6 million for agriculture.
According to the Department of Agriculture (DA), the combined damage from the storms, including those from Cyclone Kristine to Ofel, has exceeded P10 billion. Nika, Ofel, and Pepito have also caused damage to 22,421 homes and disrupted 430 roads and 107 bridges nationwide, the NDRRMC reported.
As a result of the storms, 21 cities and municipalities have declared a state of calamity.
Office of Civil Defense (OCD) Assistant Secretary Cesar Idio emphasized that the government’s primary concern now is to meet the needs of storm-affected communities. He noted that they are currently assessing damages caused by the typhoon, but overall, the situation in Central Luzon remains manageable.
Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jonvic Remulla meanwhile lauded local government units (LGUs) for their quick and efficient preemptive evacuation of residents which led to only a few casualties during the onslaught of Super Typhoon Pepito.
He also lauded the Philippine National Police (PNP) and the Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) which deployed over 20,000 personnel to assist the LGUs in conducting the evacuation efforts.
Meanwhile, The House of Representatives will opt for a simple holiday celebration this year in solidarity with victims of recent typhoons, responding to the call of the Office of the Executive Secretary (OES) for government agencies to avoid lavish Christmas parties amid widespread calamities.
House Deputy Secretary General Sofonias Gabonada said instead of the usual celebrations, the allocated funds for these activities were redirected toward relief efforts.
Manila Rep. Joel Chua echoed the sentiment, urging his fellow lawmakers to adopt a similar approach in their respective districts. House Assistant Majority Leader and Taguig City Rep. Amparo Maria Zamora said that simplicity has always been a hallmark of their celebrations in the House.
Zamora assured that this year’s celebrations will be even more modest. She added this collective decision by the House leadership reflects a commitment to stand in solidarity with those affected by the recent calamities.
