Meanwhile, Pinoys badly need funds

By Alex P. Vidal

“Meanwhile, fears of universal disaster sank to an all time low over the world.” – Isaac Asimov

ANOTHER reason why the Philippines should seriously nip graft and corruption in the bud is the Filipinos badly need their money to help them during disasters like earthquakes and typhoons.

The oodles of funds siphoned from the public coffer through massive graft and corruption and plunder can be used to purchase food supply, medicine and repair or build temporary shelters for victims of disasters.

As of press time severe another Tropical Storm Kalmaegi (locally named Tino) was rapidly intensifying over the Philippine Sea and was expected to reach typhoon strength prior to landfall in the central Philippines by November 3–4, 2025.

Severe Tropical Storm Kalmaegi (locally named Tino) reportedly mintensified over the Philippine Sea late on November 2, moving west toward Eastern Samar. The system was forecast to reach typhoon strength before landfall over the Philippines late on November 3 or early on November 4.

With about 18 to 20 typhoons per year, the Philippines is considered one of the most frequently and severely affected countries worldwide.

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Few of the storm systems, which mostly come from the east, turn north toward Taiwan and China before making landfall, according to the WorldData.info.

The combination of warm ocean waters, location in the Pacific typhoon belt, and geographic features makes the Philippines particularly vulnerable to tropical cyclones.

The typhoon season in the Pacific usually begins with less severe storms in April and does not end until November, explained the WorldData.info, which confirmed the most severe typhoons usually occur in August and September.

It said the most severe typhoon to make landfall in the Philippines in the past 12 months was “Nando” (international name: Ragasa). It reached a wind speed of up to 166 mph on September 21, 2025 at 8 o’clock in the evening local time near Santa Ana and was 85 miles in diameter at the time.

According to the internationally accepted Saffir-Simpson classification, this corresponded to a category 5 typhoon.

In the last six weeks alone, there have been four tropical storms that have made landfall (Nando, Opong, Paolo, Ramil).

The frequency of typhoons in the Philippines was mainly due to its geographical location and warm ocean waters, explained the WorldData.info.

The archipelago is located in the western Pacific Ocean. The center of the country is located about 1200 km north of the equator and thus in the middle of the Pacific Typhoon Belt.

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In addition, the Philippines, with its widely ramified island system and disproportionately large number of coastal sections, is reportedly particularly vulnerable to the effects of typhoons.

Large and powerful cyclones regularly form in the warm waters of the Philippine Sea. The Earth’s rotation causes the rising warm air masses themselves to rotate, and a vortex is formed. The warm ocean surface serves as a source of energy that increases the strength of the typhoon, allowing it to grow in size and intensity.

Meanwhile, Kalmaegi will continue moving westward across the central Philippines, with landfall expected late on November 3 or early on November 4 over Eastern Samar, Leyte, or Dinagat Islands, According to Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA),

The system was then expected to cross the Visayas region, move near northern Palawan, and emerge over the West Philippine Sea by November 5, maintaining typhoon strength.

PAGASA’s 72-hour forecast shows sustained winds of 150 km/h (93 mph) west-northwest of Palawan before exiting the Philippine Area of Responsibility late on November 6.

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Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) forecasts a similar trend, with a westward track across the central Philippines into the South China Sea and continued west-northwest movement toward southern Vietnam or Laos. Peak winds are forecast to reach 167 km/h (104 mph) before landfall, followed by gradual weakening over land and potential re-intensification after re-emerging over water.

Watchers News said PAGASA has raised Tropical Cyclone Wind Signal (TCWS) No. 2 over the southeastern portion of Eastern Samar (Guiuan, Salcedo, Mercedes), Siargao, Bucas Grande, and Dinagat Islands. Gale-force winds of 62–88 km/h (39–55 mph) are expected across these areas within the next 24 hours.

Signal No. 1 was in effect for parts of Sorsogon, Masbate (including Ticao Island), Samar, Biliran, Leyte, Cebu, Bohol, Negros, Iloilo, Capiz, Guimaras, northern Agusan, and northern Surigao provinces. These areas may experience strong winds of 39–61 km/h (24–38 mph) within 36 hours.

(The author, who is now based in New York City, used to be the editor of two leading daily newspapers in Iloilo, Philippines.—Ed)