The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has sealed an agreement with the country’s biggest cable provider alliance, the Philippine Cable Television Association, Inc. (PCTA), to create “DOSTv”, a 24/7 cable weather information channel to complement the services of DOST’s main weather agency, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

DOSTv shall broadcast accurate and up-to-date weather information of PAGASA, along with hourly satellite and Doppler images and weather sensors data from the Program NOAH website. NOAH, or the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards, is DOST’s flagship program for disaster preparedness under the directive of President Benigno Aquino III.

The partnership between DOST and PCTA was formalized through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) recently during the PCTA 2013 Convention at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.

“This partnership significantly contributes to our ongoing efforts to mitigate the destructive effects of natural calamities such as typhoons and monsoon rains under the backdrop of climate change”, said DOST Secretary Mario G. Montejo.

DOSTv will be administered by the Department’s information arm, the Science and Technology Information Institute (DOST-STII) and is scheduled to debut this May 2013, to be carried by around 90 percent of PCTA’s cable franchisers. PCTA has more than 300 cable provider members all over the archipelago, according to PCTA Chairman Engr. Elpidio M. Paras.

Apart from DOSTv, PCTA members in the MOA also agree to host stations weather data gathering sensors, servers, and equipment to be provided by PAGASA, especially for its regional offices’ unreached areas and to improve the weather agency’s forecast capabilities.

“This is an important milestone for the cable industry as it is for the economy. Our lives are greatly affected by weather and climate, especially those in the regions whose primary source of income is agriculture”, PCTA Chairman Paras.

DOST-STII Director Raymund E. Liboro meanwhile stressed that “now is the time to look for means to increase the risk perception, mitigate the hazard, and prepare communities” as unprecedented meteorological events have recently struck the country.

Program NOAH Executive Director Dr. Mahar Lagmay presented during said convention a brief shocking footage of people being swept away to their deaths by even a knee-level flashflood.

“Had these people known the danger of an impending flashflood, they would have run in time for safety,” he said. “It is what we’re trying to avoid—the surprise—for it is what causes disasters and loss of lives. We simply cannot stress enough the importance of information.”

PCTA Chairman Paras also cited the importance of collaboration with weather and disaster experts, noting Cagayan de Oro’s recent linkage with PAGASA and Program NOAH. According to him, the linkage spurred by Cagayan de Oro’s devastating experience with typhoon Sendong enabled a two-hour warning before typhoon Pablo of last year hit the city, and resulted in zero casualties. An unprepared neighbor, Compostela Valley, unfortunately, was left with a many fatalities, he said.

New partners in disaster mitigation. The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) teams up with the country’s alliance of major cable providers, the Philippine Cable Television Association, Inc., (PCTA) through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement to create a new weather information channel dubbed “DOSTv” to debut in May 2013. DOSTv will broadcast weather data and advisories from Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA) as well as satellite and Doppler images and weather sensors data from the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards or Program NOAH website. In photo are (seated from left) Project NOAH Executive Director Dr. Mahar Lagmay, National Telecommunications Commission Commissioner Gamaliel A. Cordoba, DOST-PAGASA Administrator Dr. Nathaniel T. Servando, PCTA President Allan P. Dungao, DOST Science and Technology Information Institute Director Raymund E. Liboro, PCTA Chairman Engr. Elpidio M. Paras and PCTA Directors (standing) during the MOA signing last March 20, 2013, at PCTA’s 2013 Convention at the SMX Convention Center, Pasay City. (Photo by Gerardo Palad, text by George Robert Valencia III, S&T Media Service, DOST-STII)

Information is key. DOST STII Director Raymund E. Liboro discusses the value of creating DOSTv during the 2013 Philippine Cable Television Association Convention. DOSTv will be administered by DOST-STII and shall be a weather information resource for communities to guide their decision making and serve as a monitoring tool to help prevent disasters. DOSTv will broadcast weather data, image updates from the DOST Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration and the Project NOAH website. (Photo by Gerardo Palad, text by George Robert Valencia III, S&T Media Service, DOST-STII)

Horrifying video clip of a flashflood. Dr. Mahar Lagmay, executive director of the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards or Project NOAH, stresses the need for hazard information communication to the entire country by beginning his talk with a brief, disturbing clip of a knee-high flashflood washing out a group of people down a ravine, taken from a mobile device. He said that because of lack of information, natural events catch people by surprise, thus leading to disasters. This has to be prevented, Dr. Lagmay emphasized. (Photo by Gerardo Palad, text by George Robert Valencia III, S&T Media Service, DOST-STII)

One in disaster mitigation. DOST-STII Director Raymund E. Liboro (3rd from right) and ABS-CBN Chairman Eugenio Lopez III (2nd from right), together with Philippine Cable Television Association, Inc. (PCTA) President Allan P. Dungao (far right), Chairman Engr. Elpidio M. Paras (2nd from left), and other officers, pose briefly after a short talk about DOSTv. They are united about making available crucial weather information to the public. (Photo by Gerardo Palad, text by George Robert Valencia III, S&T Media Service, DOST-STII)

Weather talk. DOST STII Director Raymund E. Liboro explains the concept of DOSTv, which will also be administered by DOST-STII, information arm of the DOST, beginning May 2013. (Photo by Gerardo Palad, text by George Robert Valencia III, S&T Media Service, DOST-STII)

More weather talk. DOST-STII Director Raymund E. Liboro (right), ABS-CBN Chairman Eugenio Lopez III (middle), and PCTA President Mr. Allan P. Dungao (left) discuss plans for a soon-to-air weather channel DOSTv. (Photo by Gerardo Palad, text by George Robert Valencia III, S&T Media Service, DOST-STII)

People behind Project NOAH. DOST-STII Director Raymund E. Liboro together with the Project NOAH team inside the DOSTv booth during the 2013 Philippine Cable Television Association Convention at the SMX Convention Center. The Project NOAH website has been recognized by international organizations as one of Asia’s best practices in disaster prevention, as it integrates weather sensors, Doppler, satellite, and other weather-related data in a user-friendly interface. DOST-STII will be in-charge of DOSTv. (Photo by Gerardo Palad, text by George Robert Valencia III, S&T Media Service, DOST-STII)