The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) successfully installed automated weather stations (AWS) in four barangays in Bacolod and Iloilo, and two barangays in Jolo, Sulu recently.
Meanwhile AWS was deployed in Jaro, Iloilo City’s Agro-Meteorological Garden of the Department of Agriculture - Regional Office Field Unit VI.
In Bacolod City, Barangay Felisa received an automated weather station (AWS), while Barangays Tangub, Estefania and Alangilan had installed their respective rain gauges, according to City Councilor Mona Dia Jardin.
“AWS have a critical role in hazard mitigation in the country, particularly during typhoons and floods,” DOST Sec. Mario Montejo said. “These equipment will help the country save lives and property.”
Automated weather stations are stand-alone devices that measure weather-related factors and transmit data remotely on real-time basis.
DOST-8 Regional Director Rowen Gelonga said that more of these facilities will be installed in Aklan, Capiz and Negros Occidental. “Water level stations will also be deployed to get real-time assessment of flood threats,” he added.
Meanwhile, DOST-ARMM installed automatic rain gauge and water level monitoring station at the Walled City municipal hall grounds and San Raymundo port area in Jolo, Sulu, respectively.
One of the automated weather stations installed in the provinces.
“The deployment of these modern weather tracking equipment would eliminate subjective weather forecasting through real-time monitoring of weather disturbances,” ASTI Science Research Specialist II Neil Xavier Elpa explained.
DOST-ARMM Sec. Fradzkhan K. Ilaji coordinated the installation of said weather tracking devices.
These modern weather tracking devices are outputs of the Development of Hybrid Weather Monitoring System and Production of Weather and Rain Automated Stations Project, which is jointly managed by the DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI) and the DOST-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). (Katherine Babaran, DOST-ASTI)
