The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has issued a reminder to local government units (LGUs): focus on wind signals rather than the landfall location when preparing for severe weather events.

During a press briefing on Friday, PAGASA Senior Weather Specialist Glaiza Escullar stressed the importance of wind signals in disaster response.

"Hindi dapat nagma-matter saan nagla-landfall ang bagyo...Ang dapat po pagtuunan ng pansin ang mga wind signal na pinapalabas ng PAGASA sa bawat probinsya o munisipyo," she said.

(The location of a typhoon's landfall should not be the main focus... What should be given attention are the wind signals issued by PAGASA for each province or municipality.)

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According to Dr. Nathaniel Servando, administrator of DOST-PAGASA, it is crucial not to focus solely on the typhoon's landfall location, as the tropical cyclone's vast circulation can bring strong winds and heavy rainfall hours before it makes landfall.

"Kahit sa isang partikular lang na bayan tumama ang sentro...of course, same effects ang mararamdaman ng mga karatig bayan. Wag lang tayong magbantay kung kelan maglandfall ang sentro nito but of course tignan natin yung pangkalahatang sirkulasyon ng bagyo," he said.

PAGASA addressed criticisms posted by a mayor on social media who claimed the agency failed to adequately warn their community of Typhoon Ofel's track.

"Ang areas northeastern part of Cagayan were under signal number 4. Sa track ng bagyo...ang landfall ng bagyo ay pwdeng magbago...kung ang landfall ay nasa neighboring municipalities...the effects in terms of the strong effects of the wind at pag-uulan halos the same din," Servando said.

PAGASA also clarified that the typhoon did not pass through the town of Alcala and instead made landfall in nearby Baggao, affecting coastal communities in the northeastern part of Cagayan.

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The agency also addressed concerns about the timeliness of PAGASA's updates, explaining that there is typically a delay between the occurrence of landfall and the issuing of warning

"Laging may lag po ang posting namin kasi vineverify pa po natin yan with some tools po...bago natin maideclare ang landfall time," Escullar said.

PAGASA also added that they issue information every 3 hours and in an earlier bulletin, mentioned the areas that will be affected.