ILOILO CITY, Sept 8 (PIA) -- Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) Administrator Dr. Nathaniel Servando yesterday led the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new weather station and doppler radar station in this city to upgrade the government’s weather monitoring system in Western Visayas. Servando said the Iloilo Weather Radar Station will be a vital infrastructure in support of disaster risk reduction not only for the province of Iloilo but for the whole region of Western Visayas.
“This is a very timely and significant occasion as recent extreme weather and climate events demonstrated to us the need for a strong disaster preparedness,” said Servando during the groundbreaking ceremony held at the Department of Agriculture-Western Visayas Integrated Agricultural Research Center (DA-WESVIARC) in Brgy. Buntatala, Jaro here.
The new facility will be constructed on a vacant lot donated by DA WESVIARC in their compound. It will be equipped with new weather monitoring facilities that include automatic weather stations, brand new basic meteorological equipment, a robust communication system and state-of-the-art Doppler radar station that nwill provide reliable, real time information for monitoring severe weather system, thunderstorms and heavy rains.
The equipment will also complement existing monitoring systems such as the 12 automated weather stations, 13 automated rain gauges and three water level sensors installed in different areas in the region. It will also be eventually integrated into Project NOAH of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) which will be accessed real-time online. Servando said the Iloilo Radar including the new weather station estimated at about P110 million will be funded under the Disbursement Acceleration Program of the national government to enhance the Doppler radar network for national weather watch, accurate forecasting, and early warning. It is expected to be completed by mid-2013.
Pagasa already has seven operational radars nationwide and two more located at Tampakan and Aparri which will be operationalized in the coming months.
Sevando said once completed, the seven-storey Iloilo weather station will also be a significant infrastructure to boost science tourism in the city.
“Aside from providing real-time weather information, like our radar stations in Tagaytay, Catanduanes and Cebu, the Iloilo facility will be a favorite visiting place for students and even ordinary citizens,” said Servando.
The Iloilo Weather Station will replace the old weather station that was formerly located at the Old Airport in Mandurriao and temporarily transferred to the Iloilo Sports Complex but was also closed later. Also present at the ceremony were Iloilo City Congressman Jerry Trenas, Provincial Administrator Raul Banias, Executive Assistant to the Mayor atty. Eduardo Penaredondo, DOST 6 Director Rowen Gelonga and Department of Agriculture APCO Ruperto Deylusong. (JSC/LAF/PIA 6-Iloilo)
Source: Philippine Information Agency Iloilo
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