The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has released the names of tropical cyclones that will replace the four retired names of destructive cyclones in 2020.
Officially replacing Ambo, Quinta, Rolly, and Ulysses in the list of tropical cyclone names are Aghon, Querubin, Romina, and Upang.
PAGASA will start using the new names in 2024.
The decommissioning of "extraordinarily destructive storms" has been practiced by PAGASA since February 1979.
A tropical cyclone name is replaced once the cost of damage to agriculture and infrastructure has reached more than P1 billion and/or claimed at least three hundred lives.
In 1999, the "Name-a-Bagyo Contest" was conducted by PAGASA to replace the old all-female list of local typhoon names.
They chose from around 18,000 entries, where 140 names were selected and assigned to the cyclones that would enter the Philippine area of responsibility.
The most popular and acceptable names were compiled from the entries submitted by the public.
After some revisions, the final list, consisting of four sets of 25 names, with 10 auxillary or "reserved" names, became the PAGASA’s official local naming for tropical cyclones entering the country's area of responsibility.
In the event that the number of tropical cyclones within the year exceeds 25, the auxiliary list is used.
The sets of names were used every four years, from 2021-2024, 2025-2028, 2029-2032, and beyond.