Flood
prone communities in ZamPen to receive 25 additional EWS from DOST
By
Alma L. Tingcang
IPIL,
Zamboanga Sibugay, Jan. 20 (PIA) – The Department of Science and Technology
will deploy additional 25 units of early warning systems in Zamboanga Peninsula
region to capacitate local government
units (LGUs) towards an efficient and effective disaster risk reduction and
management.
In
a press release, DOST IX Assistant Regional Director Mr. Martin A. Wee said
that the additional monitoring equipment will complement the existing 70 units
that were already deployed in strategic locations in the region since 2013.
According
to Wee, DOST-PAGASA Central Office had already approved and conducted site
survey and hydrographic survey of the identified flood prone areas and river
basins. The hydrographic survey is crucial to define shoreline and underwater
features needed to establish critical data and information.
This
year’s deployment of automated rain gauges (ARG) and water level monitoring
system (WLMS) will cover Imelda and Bayog in Zamboanga Sibugay; Labason,
Gutalac, Kalawit, Siocon, Baliguian, Siayan, Sindangan, Labangan, Rizal, La
Libertad, Piñan, Dapitan City and Dipolog City; and Isabela City in Basilan
which covers Calvario, Aguada, Kapatagan Grande, Kapayawan and Makiri.
The weather
sensors collect data without human interface and transmit 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.