In line with its priorities and thrusts in harnessing the country’s scientific and technological capabilities for sustained economic growth and development, the Department of Science and Technology IX (DOST-IX) has recently approved / released the grant of financial assistance to the LGU of Molave to implement the project on “Establishment of Automated Weather Station in Molave, Zamboanga del Sur”. The project cost amounted to One Hundred Fifty Thousand Pesos (P150,000.00) funded through the DOST-Grants-in-Aid (GIA) Program.
Specifically, DOST’s interventions involve training from PAGASA/ASTI/DOST on proper reading and interpreting the data gathered from the equipment; (2) improving the system of identifying early warning for possible occurrence of floods; and (3) acquisition of automated weather station from ASTI.
Molave municipality is basically an agricultural community where 91.85% of the total land area is devoted to agriculture. But in recent years, some areas of this town has been inundated by floods especially during heavy rains. The lowland portion of the municipality of Molave is a flood-prone area. In 1997 and 2001, Molave town experienced heavy rains, which caused the Salug Diut River to overflow and the drainage system clogged due to too much amount of water. Barangay Maloloy-on, which is situated along the riverbanks are the most affected. Part of the poblacion area also suffers the consequences when the drainage cannot accommodate the amount of water especially during heavy rains. In effect, this posed a great threat to the agricultural production of this town. Flooding in the past has damaged great amount of farm produce as it inundated majority of the farming areas. With this seemingly alarming flooding problem, the municipal government of Molave through its Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) Management Office signified their intention to avail rain gauges from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to serve as an early warning device for the municipal government so when a possible occurrence of flood is to hit the town, people will be warned.
DOST-IX, however, suggested that an automated weather station designed / developed by Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI), an attached agency of DOST, is more appropriate instead of rain gauges. The AWS is a rugged device equipped with sensors for the various required parameters such as temperature, pressure, humidity, wind direction, wind speed, and rainfall. It is also equipped with a GSM/GPRS modem to transmit data to a central server
Through the project, it is expected that there will be a scientific gathering of data on flood early warning; people will be warned and shall have enough time to prepare before the actual occurrence of floods; and lives and other properties (animals and other farm products) will be saved through early warning on floods. (DOST-IX PRESS RELEASE)
