The Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) is an area in the Northwestern

Pacific where PAGASA, the Philippines' national meteorological agency monitors weather
occurrences. Significant weather disturbances, specifically, tropical depressions and tropical
cyclones, that enter or develop in the PAR are given Philippine-specific names.

Function[edit]
The establishing decree of PAGASA mandates the weather agency, particularly its National Weather
Office, to monitor weather occurrences occurring within the PAR. This area is defined by the World
Meteorological Organization.[2][3]
Tropical depressions and tropical cyclones (typhoons) are only assigned local names by PAGASA
when they enter or develop within the PAR.[4][5] These names are provided in parallel with
internationally recognized names designated by the Japan Meteorological Agency. The rationale for
providing local names is that it is felt that Filipinos will respond more to familiar names and that it
helps to underscore that these named weather disturbances pose a direct threat to the country.
Furthermore, PAGASA provide names when a low pressure area becomes a tropical depression, in
contrast to international names that are only provided for tropical cyclones, due to the fact that
tropical depressions can still cause flooding and other damage. [6]
When a named weather disturbance within the PAR has made or is expected to make a landfall in
the Philippines, PAGASA is mandated to issue weather bulletins every six hours. If the weather
disturbance is not affecting land, the weather agency has to issue bulletins every 12 hours. [7]