In its goal to capacitate local government units (LGUs) towards an efficient and effective disaster risk reduction and management, the Department of Science and Technology, Regional Office No. IX will deploy additional 25 units of early warning systems in Zamboanga Peninsula region.
DOST IX Assistant Regional Director Mr. Martin A. Wee said that the additional weather monitoring equipment will complement the existing 70 units that were already deployed in strategic locations in the region since 2013.
Mr. Wee said that DOST-PAGASA Central Office had already approved and conducted site survey and hydrographic survey of the indentified flood prone areas / river basins. The hydrographic survey is crucial to define shore line and under water features which are needed to establish critical data and information.
Specifically, this year’s deployment of automated rain gauges (ARG) and water level monitoring system (WLMS) will cover areas under Zamboanga Sibugay (Imelda and Bayog); Zamboanga del Norte (Labason, Gutalac, Kalawit, Siocon, Baliguian, Siayan, Sindangan, Labangan, Rizal, La Libertad, Piñan, Dapitan City and Dipolog City); and Isabela City (Calvario, Aguada, Kapatagan Grande, Kapayawan and Makiri).
The weather sensors collect data without human interface and send the data automatically every 10 to 15 minutes from remote sites directly to DOST weather data server in Manila for further study and analysis of PAGASA. The devices are solar-powered, making them more resilient to power disruptions during typhoons. The data transmitted by the ARGs, for instance, will enable DOST’s other equipment and personnel to monitor rainfall volume and duration and estimate its impact on the river levels downstream, eventually helping in flood prediction and in the LGU’s management of early warning information. Accurate and updated science-based weather information would be very helpful for LGUs to institute proper and on-time disaster response, thus saving lives, properties and livelihood. (DOST IX PRESS RELEASE)
