EXPLAINER: News should always report when a tropical cyclone enters PAR, here's why

While weather forecasts are often seen as useful information for planning daily activities or what we'll pack for our next trip, their true significance extends far beyond. In many instances, weather forecasts can be a matter of life and death, especially during severe weather events like typhoons and storms.

However, some individuals believe that news reports about tropical cyclones or storms entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) should be avoided. Filipino Filmmaker Jason Paul Laxamana recently drew mixed reactions from social media users after saying this would only “cause confusion and panic to regular people” and that such information should only be for meteorologists. 

“It causes confusion/panic to regular people who assume that PAR = landfall. Pang-meteorologist lang dapat ang info na iyon,” Laxamana wrote in his Facebook post on Saturday, Oct. 26, after the onslaught of tropical storm Kristine which flooded most parts of Luzon, most especially the Bicol region, and claimed the lives of over 100 people.

“It's enough to say it's being monitored, along with its chance of making landfall,” he said in his reply. “PAR is a technical term which is meant for scientists, not the common tao,” he added in a separate comment.

He alluded that new outlets using such terms are “fearmongering,” which in turn helps to boost engagement.

This leads us to the question: Why is it important to report about storms and typhoons entering PAR, anyway?

For public awareness

Benison Estareja, a meteorologist and weather specialist at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), stressed that it is crucial to report any tropical cyclones entering PAR to inform the public about the potential formation of a weather disturbance.  

“It's very important to report tropical cyclones (weak or strong) entering PAR because PAR covers, apart from Philippine landmass, all surrounding bodies of water where there is a potential formation of a weather disturbance including tropical cyclones,” he told PhilSTAR L!fe.   

He added that the agency’s goal is to give weather warnings to the public for the protection of their lives and properties from potential hazards like heavy rains, strong winds, storm surges, etc. that may occur in their area. 

“If you'll look closely, there are areas in PAR that are far from landmass (i.e. Philippine Sea or the sea east of PH) and this is because it is ideal to warn the public up to a few days in advance before a tropical cyclone and its hazards affect them,” he continued. 

“If there is no PAR or no area of reference, the public will have a difficult time preparing for these hazards and there is an increasing potential for damages to lives and properties,” he concluded. 

On the issue of technical terms like PAR causing “unnecessary confusion,” Estareja explained: “PAR is not a fearmongering term at all. It's simply a bounded area assigned by the World Meteorological Organization to the Philippines so we can monitor the NATURALLY occurring weather systems including tropical cyclones.” 

He added, “It's like saying related terms such as Monsoon, LPA, and tropical cyclones are also fearmongering. These terms must be announced and have their own definitions anyway, so the public can better understand them.”

To mitigate potential risks or problems

With the awareness given a few days before any weather disturbances form, the public would have ample time to adjust and better prepare and protect their lives and their properties, especially since most areas in the Philippines are prone to floods and landslides.

This would also help commercial establishments make necessary adjustments and preparations to secure their goods, and most especially the local government, specifically the disaster risk reduction and management office to assess possible hazards and prepare for rescue, relief, and evacuation of their constituents.

Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG) Assistant Secretary Irene Dumlao recently stressed the critical importance of substantial investments in proactive measures.

“Investments in anticipatory action in the Philippines have been considered using the social protection system. Recognizing anticipatory action as crucial for providing protection and mitigation, the Philippines, through the DSWD, worked with various partners to introduce anticipatory action in disaster risk reduction,” she said during a panel discussion at the Asia-Pacific Ministerial Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction (APMCDRR) last Oct. 16.

Additionally, weather reports assist farmers in planning irrigation schedules and protective measures, enable businesses to prepare for potential risks, and allow transportation authorities to decide on possible trip delays or cancellations, to name a few.