In an interview with Panahon TV, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Meno Mendoza said no weather disturbance is expected to develop or enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) within the next three days. Today, the country remains storm-free but the Frontal System will still bring cloudy skies in several parts of Luzon.
The Frontal System refers to the boundary of cold and warm air masses. When winds converge, convective clouds are formed. The regions of Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Cordillera and Central Luzon will have light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms. Meanwhile, Metro Manila and the rest of the country can expect generally fair weather apart from the isolated rain showers or thunderstorms in the afternoon or evening.
Tag-init is still on! Despite the rains in some parts of Luzon, warm and humid weather will prevail in most parts of the archipelago. Metro Manila will feel a scorching 40 degrees Celsius in the next hours. Here are the highest heat indices today:
Metro Manila – 40 °C
IloIlo/Bacolod City – 39.3 °C
Tuguegarao City – 39 °C
Puerto Princesa – 38.3 °C
Laoag City – 38.2 °C
Metro Cebu – 38.2 °C
According to PAGASA, frequent thunderstorms are observed but the weather bureau has yet to declare the onset of “tag-ulan”. Mendoza explained that we are still in the transition period, where shifting of winds are still on the process.
The Tail End of a Cold Front, a weather system formed when cold air mass dominates over warm air mass, affects extreme Northern Luzon today.
Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced in the province of Batanes and the islands of Calayan. In Metro Manila and the rest of country, there will be partly cloudy to cloudy skies with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.
As the Hot and Dry Season peaks, temperatures will rise in these areas:
Extreme caution is needed when heat index is between 33-41°C as this can result in heat stroke, heat cramps and heat exhaustion.
Meanwhile, in an interview with PanahonTV, PAGASA Weather Forecaster Gener Quitlong said that the country will remain free from any weather disturbance in the next two days.
Panahon TV is now hiring an Administrative Assistant and Post Production Editor.
Administrative Assistant’s Responsibilities
* Answers and directs phone calls
* Organizes and schedules appointments
* Plans meetings and takes down detailed minutes
* Writes and distributes email, correspondence memos, letters, faxes and forms
* Assists in the preparation of regularly scheduled reports
* Develops and maintains a filing system
* Updates and maintains office policies and procedures
* Orders office supplies
* Maintains contact lists
* Submits and reconciles expense reports
* Provides general support to visitors
* Acts as point person for internal and external clients
Administrative Assistant’s Qualifications
* Knowledgeable in office management systems and procedures
* Has working knowledge of office equipment like printers and fax machines
* Proficient in MS Office (MS Excel and MS PowerPoint)
* Prioritizes work and has excellent time management skills
* Has attention to detail and possesses problem-solving skills
* Has excellent written and verbal communication skills
* Has strong organizational skills with the ability to multi-task
Post Production Editor’s Responsibilities
* Works on a variety of production output like corporate videos, public service announcements, commercials, and documentaries.
* Does motion graphics
* Oversees the quality of video and audio engineering and editing
* Experiments with styles including graphic design
Post Production Editor’s Qualifications
* Has thorough knowledge of digital technology and video and audio editing software packages like Final Cut Pro, After Effects, and Adobe Photoshop
* Familiar with special effects, 3D and compositing
* Has keen eye for detail and a critical mind
* Details on the work schedule and salary will be discussed during the initial and second interviews.
Interested applicants must submit their portfolio and resume to george@ubemedia.com on or before May 23, 2017.
After soaking portions of Mindanao these past days, the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) has oscillated southward, reducing its effects on the region.
While it has been warm and humid in Luzon and Visayas since last week, the ITCZ, known as the breeding ground of Low Pressure Areas (LPA), brought rains in several areas in Mindanao. Landslides have transpired in Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte and Brgy. Napangan in Don Victoriano, Misamis Occidental because of heavy rains last Sunday.
Photos from Don Victorino Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
Because of the prevailing Easterlies or warm and humid air from the Pacific Ocean, Mindanao weather is expected to improve. This Tuesday, cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms will be experienced in the Davao Region. In Luzon, Visayas and the rest of Mindanao, generally fair weather will prevail except for isolated rain showers or thunderstorms.
Temperatures are still expected to soar with the highest heat index possible in Tuguegarao.
With the theme, “Isang DepEd, Isang Pamayanan, Isang Bayanihan Para sa Handa at Ligtas na Paaralan”, this year’s Brigada Eskuwela kicks off today. It’s part of the celebration of National School’s Maintenance Week, which aims to unite education stakeholders and encourage them to lend their time and resources in preparation for the school year. This will run until May 20, Friday.
Participants of this activity in Mindanao may experience rainy weather due to the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). ITCZ is the meeting point of winds coming from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
When different air masses converge, convective clouds form and bring rains in the affected areas. In the next hours, cloudy skies with light to moderate rains will be experienced in the regions of Caraga and Davao.
Meanwhile, warm and humid weather will prevail in the rest of the country. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies with chances of isolated rain showers or thunderstorms are expected in Metro Manila and the remaining parts of the archipelago.
Rising temperatures may still be felt in parts of Luzon and Visayas. Based on today’s Heat Index forecast, Tuguegarao City should brace for a scorching 40.5°C.
Heat index determines how our body perceives the temperature. It is obtained by combining air temperature with relative humidity, the latter referring to the amount of moisture in the air.It’s the reason for that “malagkit” or “maalinsangan” feeling during hot and humid days.
See previous article: Climate Action through Communication
The two-day Media Summit on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) organized by the Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union held in Dhaka, Bangladesh concluded yesterday, May 11, 2017.
Spotlight on Bangladesh
Due to a cyclone in 1991, Bangladesh experienced a massive death toll of 138,868. But through a law approved in 2012 that involved local media in disaster management, Bangladeshis have become more aware and informed. Coupled with community-based DRR initiatives, coastal volunteers, early warning and communication campaigns, as well as gender and children-inclusive planning, the number of casualties from 2001 has decreased to less than thirty per year.
During the fifth session of the summit, Bangladesh’s Deputy Secretary-General Jakaria Khaled shared their early warning and communication strategy when disasters strike. By using print and electronic media platforms, community radio, peer communication, announcements through megaphones and flag hoisting, Bangladeshi people are now more informed of the warning system for cyclones, heavy rainfall, floods, earthquakes, river bank erosion, tornadoes, fires, landslides, arsenic contamination, and salinity intrusion.
“Technical language of meteorology, understanding of signal and degree of danger for commoners, and difference of local language are a few factors that we consider communication challenges,” said Khaled.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh NGOs Network for Radio and Communication Chief Executive Officer Bazlur Rahman shared the role of community radio in their country. Apart from disseminating early warnings before and during disasters, it is also a practice to report on relief and rehabilitation, livelihood issues, and agricultural production-related content after a calamity.
Bangladesh’s Department of Disaster Management Director General Riaz Ahmed concluded the third session with his recommendation on alleviating the impacts of flooding in their country. “There is a need to develop a mechanism for urban flood risk management and disaster resilience,” he said, adding that this can be done by protecting different water sources, and improving the waste and drainage management system.
Japan’s Initiatives
In the afternoon session, Japan’s national broadcasting station presented their strategies developed after the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011.
According to NHK’s Akinori Hashimoto, their public channel is linked to the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) so they can immediately report information on torrential rains, cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic activities.
Because of JMA’s state-of-the-art technology, it can predict strong earthquakes a few seconds before the ground shaking. This is the reason why they are able to release early warnings on the predicted areas to be affected by the ground shaking, and safe evacuation sites with a little time before the disaster. In fact, they were able to announce the 2011 quake ten seconds before the disaster in Sendai, and 65 seconds before the ground shaking in Tokyo – something that is not yet done in other countries.
JMA releases a Tsunami Advisory if the ocean wave is less than a meter, Tsunami Warning if it’s up to three meters, and Major Tsunami Warning if the wave height is more than three meters. This warning system also informs locals on the estimated area and time of the event.
The Japanese government uses all TV and radio channels to announce early warnings and report ongoing events during a disaster. But in spite of their high technology, they still recommend the following: 1) inclusivity of people with disabilities for the early warning systems, and 2) information on the status of evacuation routes, shelters, transportation, and electric power. They also plan to have sign language interpreters on TV when disasters strike.
Aqeel Quereshi introduced the methods of delivering inclusive early warning systems during the seventh session. Apart from sign language interpretation, TV stations and other DRR organizations must also utilize open and closed captioning of reports, comprehensible electronic signs, flags, siren strobes, and community-based warnings. He also encouraged persons with disabilities to have their own disaster plan according to different emergency situations. This includes determining how to get assistance, creating a list of emergency hotlines, and preparing a 72-hour supply kit with special medication.
Quereshi concluded his presentation by encouraging the leaders to meet the universal design principles and guidelines set by the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD). He also requested for provisions for access to alternative communication systems, and the implementation of the web content accessibility guidelines 2.0, which explains to developers and authors how to make content more friendly to people with disabilities like him.
Dhaka Declaration of Commitment
DRR broadcasters across Asia-Pacific committed to disseminating important information on climate change and disaster risk reduction through a multiplatform level with proactive measures. Media practitioners also agreed to persuade its audience to get involved in disaster management initiatives, and to further address poverty alleviation in accordance to the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG). The UNSDG is an agenda adopted by a number of countries in 2015, which aims to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure prosperity for all through a list of actions that can be done in and outside the home.
The Dhaka Declaration of Commitment will be presented during the UN’s Global Platform for DRR to be held in Cancun, Mexico on the 24th to 26th of May. This also serves as Asia-Pacific’s contribution in future dialogues for the implementation of the Paris Agreement and other significant international forums.
Next year, the ABU Media Summit on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Summit will take place in the South Pacific nation of Fiji, another country that constantly faces strong cyclones, storm surges, and sea level rise.
The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union, in partnership with Bangladesh TV, gathered Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) advocates, climate and weather experts, and communication and media practitioners for the Third Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction Media Summit in Dhaka in Bangladesh on May 10, 2017. The organizing committee chose to mount this year’s convention in Bangladesh, which is one of the developing countries most vulnerable to natural hazards.
Facing the Challenges of Climate Action
In 2015, three agreements were created to amplify climate change adaptation and disaster mitigation and preparedness. One of them was the Paris Agreement (COP21) whose purpose is to lessen global carbon emission to two degrees, and set five-yearly targets for cutting emissions. Committing the countries that produce the highest carbon to this agreement is the one of its key objectives.
“Change of government in Australia means change of perspective,” agent provocateur Dr. Martin Hadlow shared during the first session of the summit. Australia is one of the countries that strongly support the Paris Agreement, and is on track to meet the targets in 2020.
But despite this positive change, the agreement still faces many challenges. U.S. President Donald Trump, who doesn’t believe in climate change, wants to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. Dr. Hadlow also mentioned that majority of those joining the agreement are developing countries, which are not considered top carbon contributors. To be able to generate bigger funds for the agreement, he said that bigger countries must also ratify the deal.
During the summit’s second session, another challenge was brought up by research investigator Mofizur Rahman. “Health is lagging behind in climate change discussions,” he said, adding that climate actions always include disaster preparedness, recovery and rehabilitation yet seldom discuss the disasters’ impacts on health. This is borne out of the massive gap in information and technology, lack of multidisciplinary approach, and complexity of the problem.
The Role of Media
On the fourth session, Panahon TV Executive Producer Donna May Lina shared the program’s initiatives that reach out to society, such as campus tours, developing citizen correspondents, and internship programs. Through these campaigns, the general public especially the youth, are empowered to get involved in DRR platforms in the Philippines.
Meanwhile, BBC’s Senior Reporter Shihan Zuberi shared the best practices of BBC in disaster broadcasting. “Communication should provide pscho-social benefits.” According to him, BBC believes that effective communication is needs-based, actionable, positive, and responsive. Reporters must also understand that the information they communicate through different media platforms should serve as the voice of calamity survivors, and not just stories about them.
The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union is a non-profit, professional association of broadcasting organisations. It currently has over 280 members in 57 countries and regions, reaching a potential audience of about 3 billion people. One of the organization’s thrust is to promote disaster preparedness to lessen casualty when disasters strike. They also conduct conferences among media practitioners to help them improve their climate change and DRR content.
Warm weather is expected but rains are still possible today, Wednesday. The Low Pressure Area (LPA) previously monitored outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) is now embedded along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), the boundary of winds coming from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. When these winds converge, convective clouds are formed, bringing high chances of rains.
The ITCZ is expected to dump light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms in Mindanao, Central and Western Visayas, and Negros Island. Residents are advised to monitor updates as PAGASA may issue rainfall warnings in the next hours.
Prevailing in the eastern section of the country are Easterlies or winds coming from the Pacific Ocean that becomes dominant during “tag-init”. This weather system is responsible for the warm and humid weather that we experience in most parts of the country. In the next hours, Metro Manila and the rest of the archipelago will experience partly cloudy to cloudy skies with chances of isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.
Along with the prevailing Easterlies are the rising temperatures and heat indices. Heat index determines how the human body perceives the heat. It’s how we feel when the air temperature is combined with the relative humidity in a specific location. Below is the heat index forecast:
(SBMA, Olongapo – 37.1 °C
Tuguegarao City – 36.5 °C
Metro Manila – 36.4 °C
Ilo-Ilo / Bacolod – 36.2 °C
Metro Davao – 36.1 °C)
Question of the Day
While the heat is still on, thunderstorms are also becoming more frequent. One of Panahon TV’s followers, Dan Joshua Apura, asked “Kailan mag-uumpisa ang Rainy Season sa bansa?”(When can we expect the onset of Rainy Season in the Philippines?)
According to PAGASA Weather Forecaster Chris Perez, the onset of “tag-ulan” usually occurs during the second half of May until the early part of June. “Itong mga nararanasan nating thunderstorms, hindi pa ito ‘yung actual na onset ng Rainy Season. Pero ito po ay indicator na sa mga darating na araw o linggo ay posible nga na tuluyan nang magdeklara ang PAGASA na umpisa na ng tag-ulan dito sa ating bansa.”, Perez explained.(Frequent thunderstorms don’t signify that Rainy Season has begun. However, this may be an indicatorfor PAGASA to declare “Tag-ulan” in the coming days or weeks.)
Do you have other weather-related questions? Send your inquiries through our social media accounts and get a chance to be featured on our show!
A new weather disturbance was spotted outside the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR).
At 4:00 AM today, the Low Pressure Area (LPA) was located at 525 kilometers southeast of General Santos City. PAGASA Weather Forecaster Benison Estareja said that this weather disturbance is not expected to enter PAR. However, its advancing clouds are bringing rains in some parts of Mindanao.
Cloudy skies with light to moderate rains and isolated thunderstorms are expected in the regions of Davao, Soccsksargen, ARMM and the Zamboanga peninsula.
Meanwhile, the extended part of High Pressure Area is bringing generally fair weather in Luzon, Visayas and the rest of Mindanao. Partly cloudy to cloudy skies will prevail only with isolated rain showers or thunderstorms mostly in the afternoon or evening.
