News update PAGASA: Only 13 to 15 cyclones to pass through RP in 2010

With the recently ended El Niño phenomenon allowing only one cyclone to pass through Philippine territory so far this year, state weather forecasters expect only up to 15 cyclones to enter the country for 2010 — five below the yearly average.

Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration forecaster Elvie Enriquez said most of the cyclones will come in during La Niña, in the second half of the year.

"Palagay ko itong taong ito di tayo aabot sa quota. Siguro pinakamarami nating maramdaman 13 to 15, dati ang average 19 to 20 (I think we will not reach our average quota of 19 to 20 cyclones a year. We may experience only 13 to 15 cyclones this year)," Enriquez said in an interview on dzBB radio.

She said the country has experienced only one cyclone so far — "Agaton" — yet it did not bring much-needed rains when it "strayed" into Philippine territory earlier this year.

Last March, Tropical Storm Agaton (international code name Omais) moved away from the country without bringing rains.

Enriquez noted there is still no sign of an approaching cyclone so far this month.

"So far umpisa pa lang, July na tayo. Isa na tayo, naligaw lang, parang freak lang, naligaw lang. Ngayon July wala pa rin (So far we are already in July, and we had only one cyclone and it was more of a freak occurrence. Now it's July and we see no sign of another cyclone)," she said.

But she said the next cyclone — to be code-named "Basyang" — will likely enter Philippine teerritory in the third and fourth quarters of 2010.

For now, she said the country can only expect isolated thunderstorms.

"Ine-expect natin third and last quarter ng 2010 may La Niña, mas marami-raming bagyo ang bibisita sa atin (We expect more cyclones to come in during n the third and last quarters of 2010, when there is La Niña)," she said. — RSJ