Rain, water-level sensors to be given to LGUs

By Rudolf Ian G. Alama

Thursday 19th of July 2012

DAVAO CITY July 19 (PIA)-- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) aims to distribute hundreds of rain and water-level sensors to local government units as part of its disaster risk-reduction and management strategy.

During a press conference of the Regional Disaster Risk-Reduction and Management Council held yesterday (July 18) at the Philippine Information Agency XI office in Davao City, DOST-XI Regional Director Anthony Sales said DOST is planning to give and install 400 water-level sensors and 600 automated rain gauges throughout the country by 2013.

The DOST has already installed 25 water level sensors and 186 automated rain gauges across the country. Sales said that these gauges were developed by DOST’s Advance Science and Technology Institute (ASTI). He added that an automated rain gauge costs around P100,000 per kit while a water-level sensor is priced at P200,000.

The equipment are part of Project Noah (Nationwide Operational Assessments of Hazards) which according to Sales brings to the barangay level the readiness and resilience of residents to disasters.

Project Noah with an estimated budget of P1.6 billion gives real-time warning and information to the public on impending calamities and weather disturbances.

The cost includes the procurement of Doppler radars by the end of 2012. The DOST is planning to install the weather radars in Tampakan in South Cotabato, Aparri in Cagayan Valley and Baler in Quezon Province. The country presently has six Doppler radars in Baguio, Subic, Tagaytay, Virac, Mactan and Hinatuan.

Sales said the Doppler radar and Hinatuan and the planned radar in Tampakan will cover the region.

The DOST-XI has set up six automated weather stations in the region, found in Mati City and Baganga in Davao Oriental, Jose Abad Santos in Davao del Sur, The Island Garden City of Samal in Davao del Norte, the PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration) weather station in Davao City, Nabunturan in Compostela Valley Province.

Some of the rain gauges will be installed in Smart and Sun cell sites as part of its partnership with these telecom companies.(PIA/RG Alama)