The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) said that in the past few years, there have been fewer typhoons making landfall in the Philippines, but the intensity of the typhoons is more intense and more dangerous.
PAGASA forecasts that the above trend of more intense and dangerous storms will continue in the coming years.
"H historical records show a decreasing trend in the frequency of tropical storms, but an increasing trend in the number of more intense storms," said Dr. Ana Liza Solis, PAGASA's director of weather and climate monitoring and forecasting at a disaster communication workshop organized by the Philippine Presidential Communications Office.
Dr. Solis pointed out that the Philippines has been hit by an average of at least 19 to 20 tropical storms annually over the past 10 years. But now, such a number is rare.
"That means, historically, we have had many typhoons and super typhoons. And the trend of typhoons and super typhoons becoming more intense is increasing," she added.
With the possibility of this phenomenon continuing as climate change worsens, Solis said the best response is to prepare and build a long-term adaptation strategy.
We need to adapt and resilience as storms come, we need to deal with them, Solis told the Philippine News in a separate interview.
The Trump administration of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has been developing solutions to address the long-term impact of climate-related disasters, including through major government projects such as flood mitigation works, irrigation systems and recovery initiatives for major river basins and dams.
The Philippines has suffered dozens of casualties and billions of pesos in property damage as six typhoons have hit several provinces over the past two months, with the most recent super typhoon Pepito (Man-yi) hitting Luzon the hardest.
Many of the storms after passing through the Philippines have entered the East Sea, such as Typhoon enteng (Yagi - Typhoon No. 3), Typhoon Kristine (Tramami - Typhoon No. 6), Super Typhoon Pepito (super Typhoon Man-yi - Typhoon No. 9).
PAGASA's typhoon forecast says the Philippines will still face one or two more typhoons that are likely to make landfall in December.
PAGASA said that if the storm makes landfall in the first week of December, it is likely to be stronger than when it makes landfall in late December.
