The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) tossed back the blame for the sinking of MV Princess of the Stars to its owner, Sulpicio Lines Inc..
In an interview with abs-cbnNEWS.com/Newsbreak Saturday, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary Graciano Yumul Jr. said PAGASA’s mandate is simply to inform the general public on forecasts that may help prevent natural calamities.
“Our mandate is only as a warning agency. When there is a change in direction of a typhoon, it’s our duty to inform the general public,” Yumul said. “How others use our forecast, we cannot control.”
The PAGASA is an agency under the DOST.
Yumul was reacting to Sulpicio Lines officials’ testimony Friday before a Philippine Coast Guard board of marine inquiry that the sinking of the ferry was due to PAGASA’s wrong forecast of typhoon Frank.
“We were not wrong in our forecast….When the typhoon changed track, we informed the public,” he said. “So it’s not PAGASA that is erratic; it’s the typhoon which was erratic.”
In Friday’s investigation, Sulpicio Lines port captain Nestor Ponteres quoted the MV Princess of the Stars Capt. Florencio Marimon as having said, “Crazy PAGASA, what happened to their forecast?”
Ponteres also told the board of marine inquiry Marimon decided to leave Manila for Cebu Friday since PAGASA’s weather forecast showed that the ship’s path would not enter an area that would be under the strong typhoon signal number 3. Ships are not allowed to sail under signal number 2 and 3.
“Capt. Marimon said that he will evade the typhoon because the typhoon’s path, based on the forecast of PAGASA, was far from the voyage plan of the ship,” Ponteres said.




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