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PAGASA: 2025 storms 'less severe' compared to last year

An official from PAGASA on Saturday said the tropical cyclones that the Philippines will be experiencing this year will not be as severe as what the country endured in 2024 due to the absence of La Niña. 'As compared to last year, hindi siya kasing lala unlike last year… October to November isang buwan lang ito ay anim na sunod sunod na bagyo, actually typhoon and super typhoon categories,' PAGASA Deputy Administrator Mar Villafuerte said at a news forum in Quezon City. (As compared to last year, it's not as bad as last year... October to November is just one month; it's six consecutive typhoons, actually typhoon and super typhoon categories.) To recall, during the last quarter of 2024, the country endured six back-to-back tropical cyclones within less than 30 days, which heavily affected Luzon. Villafuerte's remark was backed by Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Renato Solidum. 'On the average hindi [ganun kalala]… dahil walang La Niña,' Solidum said. (On average it's not that bad… because there's no La Niña.) La Niña is characterized by unusually cooler than average sea surface temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific (CEEP). It is usually associated with above-normal rainfall conditions. In April, PAGASA announced the termination of the La Niña alert in the country as normal rainfall conditions are expected. 'Of course, hindi natin isinasawalang bahala… na baka maging kampante ang ating mga kababayan. Kapag merong nasa development phase pa lang siya… or even two weeks before na magkaroon ng tropical cyclone, ini-inform na natin ang ating mga kababayan para mapaghandaan ahead of time,' Villafuerte said. (We are not ignoring the fact that our countrymen may become complacent. When something is still in the development phase or even two weeks before a tropical cyclone occurs, we inform the public so they can prepare ahead of time.) PAGASA earlier said the country may experience 16 to 19 tropical cyclones this year. —VAL, GMA Integrated News