Sen Marcos: Did PAGASA fail to warn us about Kristine's ferocity?

Senator Imee R. Marcos expressed dismay over the reported "lack of early warnings" from PAGASA, which she said contributed to the tragic toll of Typhoon Kristine, claiming 59 lives in Batangas and leaving 12 people missing as of November 2 reports. More than 20,965 families, or around 88,374 individuals, have been forced to evacuate and are now taking shelter in evacuation centers.

"If PAGASA had properly alerted the LGUs about the intensity of the rainfall, people could have evacuated earlier, and these lives might have been saved," the senator remarked.

"We have sufficient funds, so why do warnings seem to fall short every time there's a typhoon? What happened? PAGASA's budget has even increased for 2025 – this situation should not happen again," she added.

According to a comparison of the 2024 General Appropriations Act and the 2025 National Expenditure Program, the Department of Science and Technology's budget increased by P1.542 billion, with PAGASA's allocation rising from P1.641 billion to P1.931 billion.

Beyond the significant property damage, power and water outages have affected communities for days. Although some roads remain impassable, floodwaters have receded in the affected areas, and clearing operations continue in the hardest-hit towns, including Laurel, Talisay, Agoncillo, Balete, and Cuenca. (PR)