MANILA -- Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) shielded itself after drawing flak from President Benigno Aquino III on its "wrong" typhoon forecast.
Pagasa director Prisco Nilo said they have exerted all efforts to remind the public on tropical storm Basyang.
"He did not scold us. He was just asking for details regarding the storm and on how the government can help in improving Pagasa's forecasting system, among other things," he pointed out.
He added that the typhoon had a radius of 250 kilometers and its strong winds prompted blackouts across the capital and nearby provinces.
Deputy director for research and development Nathaniel Servando, for his part, said Pagasa will be able to make better weather forecasts once the other Doppler radars will be installed.
As of the moment, Pagasa has two working Doppler radar stations, one in Baguio City and in Baler, Aurora that were used to measure the amount of rainfall that fell in the affected Luzon provinces.
Based on the agency's 24-hour monitoring, Basyang dumped 131 millimeters (mm) of rainfall in Port Area, Manila; 89 mm in Infanta, Quezon; 137 mm in Alabat, Quezon; 93.4 mm in Daet, Camarines Norte; 44 mm in Legaspi City, Albay; 90.8 mm in Virac, Catanduanes; and 160 mm in Tayabas, Quezon.
The state weather bureau also recorded 123.9 mm of rainfall and gustiness of 85 kph at Sangley Point in Cavite; 74.2 mm of rainfall and gustiness of 55 kph at Pagasa's Science Garden; 95 kph gustiness at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA); 89.4 mm in Calapan, Oriental Mindoro; 218.5 mm in Ambulong Island, Occidental Mindoro; and Tanay, Rizal has experienced 85 kph winds and 108.2 mm of rainfall. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)