PAGASA trains Sarangani DRRMCs on automated weather station

By Catherine T. Apelacio

Thursday 28th of June 2012

ALABEL, Sarangani, June 28 (PIA) -- The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA) trained local government staff on the use of Automated Weather Station (AWS) Tuesday, June 26, at the Capitol Compound here.

The training centered on "the details of accessing data" from the AWS.

The AWS was installed and made operational at the PDRRM Office in December last year, Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management (PDRRM) officer Buenaventura Solarte said.

The AWS has the capability to monitor “real time weather changes taking place in specific locality” and is expected to boost “PAGASA’s weather forecasting facilities” deployed around the country.

Solarte also said the gadget helps synchronize the drumming up of a weather report, processing and facilitating it as soon as it is necessary.

Solarte told PIA General Santos City that the AWS forms part of the 152 networks installed across the country to equip local DRRMCs with the capability to keep an eye on potential weather changes and abnormalities in their respective areas of responsibility.

“AWS is an instrument to measure weather-related information like wind velocity and direction, temperature, rainfall volume, humidity, pressure among other related issues,” he explained.

He added that the gadget “helps local people especially the PDRRMO frontline personnel easily access data related to weather system and possibly forecast local weather situation.”

Aside from its different features, Solarte said that “it’s a gadget installed permanently with solar-powered energy that can transmit data to DOST-PAGASA central information system on real time via internet.”

PAGASA GenSan officer-in-charge Danny Arriola said the modern instrument is in keeping with PAGASA’s vision and President Aquino’s order to make the agency updated on advanced science and latest technology in order to address real time weather condition brought about by climate change.

Governor Migs Dominguez is happy with newest addition to the province’s disaster instruments, as recently flood and storm hit some barangays of Glan, one of the seven municipalities of Sarangani.

Sarangani is one of those provinces in the country that is vulnerable to flash flood, landslide, and storm surge or tsunami.

Dominguez said real time information to raise public awareness and instilling consciousness on disaster preparedness among his constituents top the province’s list.

With the AWS, “we can alert the communities when possible rain is about to come and the possible causes of damages, so we can react,” Sarangani Information Office quoted Vice Governor Steve Chingbian Solon.

Aside from the PDRRMO staff as participants and facilitators, representatives from the municipal DRRMCs and other key government and non-government organizations also attended the one-day orientation-seminar. (DED/CTA/PIA 12-General Santos City/With report from Sarangani Information Office)