Fresh take: Netizens,experts weigh in on reporting storms inside PAR

Metro Manila, Philippines — Some netizens have engaged in an online debate on the social media post of film director Jason Paul Laxamana that news reports on storms entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) do more harm than good.

“Hot take: a typhoon entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility shouldn’t be announced as news, because it causes confusion/panic to regular people who assume that PAR = landfall. Pang-meteorologist lang dapat ang info na iyon,” Laxamana wrote on Facebook on Oct. 26.

“By announcing a typhoon's entry into PAR through local news, can promote public safety, reduce possible risk and damage sa mga properties and people. So it's good din naman, and it depends how news and authorities will report it to "regular people" and not educated enough to not cause panics sa masa,” a netizen commented on Laxamana’s post.

Another one said that reporting inside PAR gives more time for people to prepare.

“Sa tingin ko lang direk, it gives people time to prepare for the typhoon. Not sure. Pero they can inform the LGUs nlng siguro,” the netizen said.

[Translation: I just think, director, it gives people time to prepare for the typhoon. Not sure. But maybe they can just inform the LGUs]

A netizen agreed on Laxamana’s comment on using technical terms.

“Along with all the Jargons, like I.T.C.Z., like what's that? lagi kong tanong yan sa sarili ko whenever weather news na yung segment sa tv, they love using jargons na para bang naiintindihan ng mga manonood, and wala man lang explanation kung ano yung mga sinasabi nila,” a netizen said.

[Translation: That's always my question to myself whenever the weather news segment is on TV. They love using jargons as if viewers understand, without any explanation for what they’re saying]

NewsWatch Plus sought insights from scientists and journalists on the significance of reporting storms entering PAR and whether these cause unnecessary public alarm.

“The purpose of tracking a tropical cyclone is to provide national and local governments, agencies, businesses, communities, and the public lead time to prepare for its possible impacts. There can be associated hazards such as strong wind and heavy rainfall that are already affecting the land masses even if the eye of the tropical cyclone is still out in the sea in the Philippine Area of Responsibility,” explained Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum in a text message to NewsWatch Plus.

Solidum said sharing the tropical cyclone location and related weather effects contributes to better preparedness, not panic.

Veteran journalist and Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) trustee Vergel Santos echoed the sentiment.

“The earlier I’m warned about anything that will affect me, the more I will appreciate it, because I’m given more time to prepare for it,” said Santos. “And so much more in the case of a typhoon, a natural scientific phenomenon that is becoming progressively deadly and destructive.”

Journalism professors also disagreed with Laxamana’s remarks.

"Contrary to the film director's views, the news media should report expected typhoons so that audiences can prepare,” said UP journalism professor Danilo Arao.

“The use of technical terms like PAR is now acceptable as the people already understand them, in the same way that 'lahar' has become part of everyday vocabulary,” he added.

However, Arao did agree with another point of Laxamana: that news reports should avoid exciting or shocking stories or language at the expense of accuracy.

“Reporting the weather should not cause unnecessary fear and panic, so the news media should never sensationalize or trivialize,” said Arao.

In a recent Facebook post, Laxamana reaffirmed his stance on reporting storms outside PAR.

“I stand by it. Weather news that is relevant to the common tao is landfall, typhoon strength, rains, floods. It entering the Philippine Area of Responsibility — an imaginary zone covered by PH meteorologists doesn't mean anything yet. It only means binabantayan na ng weathermen [the weathermen are monitoring]. Di porke binabantayan ay may epektong direkta sa Pilipinas [Monitoring doesn’t mean the storm has a direct impact on the Philippines],” he said.

“Ngayon, kung mas gusto nyong nati-tense sa balita kahit na wala pang direktang epekto sa atin, aba e God bless sa inyo. Mag-sad react lang kayo nang mag-sad react everytime may balita na ‘nakapasok na ng PAR,’” he added.

[Translation: Now, if you prefer to be tense from news even if there’s no direct impact on us yet, then God bless you. Just keep hitting that sad reaction every time you hear news that it has entered PAR.]

PAGASA defines PAR as the smallest and innermost monitoring domain, whose boundary is closest to the Philippine islands.

“Tropical cyclones inside the PAR warrant the issuance of severe weather bulletin, the highest level of warning information issued for tropical cyclones,” the weather bureau said

NewsWatch Plus also reached out to PAGASA but it declined to issue an official statement.