MANILA – The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) plans to change the name typhoon “Lando” due to its severe impact on lives and property.
“There are certain requirements in decommissioning the names of tropical cyclones. If it caused 300-400 casualties and Php 1 billion or above cost of damage, then the name will be eliminated from the list and will be replaced by another name,” PAGASA weather forecaster Meno Mendoza told Philippines News Agency (PNA) in an interview.
He noted that typhoon Lando was used in 2011 and if it met the criteria then the agency would decide to decommission the name.
Typhoon Lando so far killed 58 people and destroyed about P7-billion worth of agricultural crops and infrastructures.
Mendoza added that decommissioning would allow the weather bureau to easily recall the details of the most damaging cyclones that hit the country.
“The agency is doing this to avoid confusion and trauma to the public. It will also allow us to keep the historical accounts of bygone cyclones as organized as possible,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Mendoza said the weather bureau predicted one to two cyclone to visit the country for the month of November.
The next tropical cyclone will be locally name “Marilyn,” the 13th tropical cyclone to affect the country this year.
Every year, an average of about 18 to 20 storms affects the Philippines, PAGASA said.
PAGASA released the list of names of tropical cyclones for the year 2016 this will be Ambo, Butchoy, Carina, Dindo, Enteng, Ferdie, Gener, Helen, Igme, Julian, Karen, Lawin, Marce, Nina, Ofel, Pepito, Quinta, Rolly, Siony, Tonyo, Ulysses, Vicky, Warren, Yoyong and Zosimo
The weather bureau is using four sets of name list. This year’s set of names will be reused in 2020.