By Alfonso T. Ruda
DIPOLOG CITY - The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has established 93
units of early warning devices in the identified high risk prone areas in
Zamboanga Peninsula region.
This was revealed
by DOST 9 focal person for Disaster Risk Reduction and Management,Ms.Thelma San
Diego during the forum at Top Plaza Hotel, conducted on the second day of the Regional Science and
Technology Week celebration.
San
Diego said the installed EWDs include Automated Weather Station (AWS), Automated Rain
Gauge (ARG), and Water
Level Monitoring System (WLMS).
An early warning device is designed to prevent loss
of lives and lessen damage to properties in certainareas during occurrence of
heavy rains that may result to flooding.
These instruments have the capability to send
warning to the people residing in low-lying areas 6 hours before the arrival of
the impending big flood that may hit them to prepare themselves for evacuation
to elevated areas.
Of the installed EWDS, 29 of them are in the
rivers of differentmunicipalities in
Zamboanga del Norte which were known to be high-risk flood-prone areas.
Some 24 other EWDs were installed in Zamboanga del
Sur; 14 in Zamboanga Sibugay; 2 in
Zamboanga City and 4 in Isabela City,
Basilan.
The forum, held in line with the 3-day National
Science and Technology Week (NSTW) celebration(July 25-27)aims to provide the
LGUs with new innovations in technology like early warning devices to enhance
their capabilities to respond during
emergency situations.
Itwas participated in by more or less 200 local
Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officers from the different local government
units in region 9.
This year’s NSTW
celebration carries the theme, “Juan Science, One Nation.”