Dismayed with the "sorely lacking" capability of the state weather agency to forecast the movement of weather disturbances hitting the archipelago, President Benigno Simeon "Noynoy" Aquino III wants a more responsive weather forecasting system to prevent costly errors like what transpired on Tuesday when typhoon “Basyang” (international codename: Conson) was forecast to hit northern and central provinces but devastated Metro Manila instead.

“We will review everything. All things need improvement,” Aquino said in an ambush interview with newsmen after an emergency meeting with the Disaster Risk Reduction Management Council at the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) General Headquarters' in Camp Aguinaldo in Quezon City where he reprimanded officials of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) for its delayed forecast updates on the movement typhoon.

“Why is it that they say that (the typhoon) would go to this direction, but it would go to another direction? We have to improve on this area. We have to have fool-proof (forecasting system). We need to find out what methods need improvement,” he said.

Aquino said he wants a weather forecasting system that could keep up with the rapid movement of storms so the response efforts of the government are not compromised, especially in a country visited by more than 20 typhoons annually.

“I want to emphasize to them (Pagasa officials) that we must have a system with more precision because a storm can move rapidly. We must know the significant changes at the earliest possible time because what happened was we made preparations in certain areas (but the typhoon) hit another area,” Aquino said, referring to the Pagasa's weather disturbance bulletins which are released every six hours.

During the briefing in Camp Aguinaldo, Aquino admonished Pagasa's “long-time problem.”

“That information it is sorely lacking and we have had this problem for quite a long time. You do what you are supposed to do. This is not acceptable. I hope this is the  last time that we are all brought to areas different from where we should be,” he said. “We rely on you to tell us where the potential problems are.”

“All the agencies have adequately met their responsibilities at this point in time but your information is sorely lacking. We have had this problem for quite a long time,” he added. Pagasa was also criticized in September, 2009 when it failed to warn Metro Manila residents of the voluminous rains dropped by tropical storm “Ondoy” (international codename: Ketsana) which inundated the country's capital resulting in deaths of hundreds of people.

Also at the briefing, the President directed the Philippine Coast Guard to conduct a feasibility study to form an advance warning system for fisherfolk when a typhoon is approaching.

Meanwhile, Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) Secretary Corazon Soliman was ordered to ensure proper accommodation for those who were evacuated because of the typhoon. He asked Department of Interior and Local Government Secretary Jesse Robredo to help out on the matter.

Soliman reported that residents in Dinggalan, Aurora who were evacuated earlier had returned to their homes.

Aquino said the Department of Science and Technology (DoST) , the parent agency of Pagasa, is exerting efforts to upgrade its weather forecasting system which would include adopting a German technology of advance warning system.

Aquino said there have been grants from European countries which would finance the technology upgrade for disaster mitigation.

On the other hand, Aquino kept mum about the government's depleted calamity funds.

"Let's wait for the DBM's pronouncement. All agencies have needs and economic managers have to manage the debt cap. Well wait for their assessment,” he said.

Pagasa Administrator Dr. Prisco Nilo also clarified reports that Pagasa got the ire of President Aquino.

“He (President Aquino) did not get angry. It was just a comment to improve the accuracy of PAGASA’s forecast. He asked us what the government can do about it. He also asked us to prevent a repeat of the event,” Nilo pointed out. (With a report from Ellalyn B. de Vera).