PAGASA Modernization program gives accurate weather forecasting

National Capital Region (NCR) weather map (Photo courtesy of PAGASA)

MANILA – The modernization program of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) continues to provide accurate weather information.

Dr. Vicente Malano, PAGASA acting Administrator, said that the government through the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has invested in enhancing the hazards monitoring capability of the country which include installation of additional doppler radars and water level monitoring sensors, Project NOAH, and LIDAR mapping, among others.

Under the National Operational Assessment of Hazards (Noah) project of the Department of Science and Technology, he said they were able to deliver the project’s eight components – hydromet sensors development, dream lidar 3-D mapping project, flood net.flooding modeling project, hazards information media, geohazards mapping, Doppler radar development, landslide sensors development project, and storm surge mapping project.

Malano added that PAGASA is continuing on its efforts and initiatives to enhance its capabilities such as 12 radars are operational while two Doppler radar in Guiuan, Eastern Samar is under reconstruction due to typhoon Yolanda’s onslaught and expect 20 doppler radar within the next three years.

“Bahagi ito sa ating improvement and modernization ng ating equipment dati rati yung 6 years ago mukhang kulang pa tayo in terms of coverage sa radar so right now we are 85 percent coverage at meron pa tayo install within the year at meron pa re-install sa Guian, Samar,” he said.

Meron tayong program na additional radars pa may mga nka pipeline na yan for the whole Philippines except dun sa maliliit na lugar na obstruct ng mga bundok na sinsabi natin mobile radars na pwede natin ideploy makuha ngayong taon, hopefully this year or the first half next year,” he told reporters.

Asked what is the scale of preparedness of the public and government officials, Malano answered “maganda yung partnership natin with NDRRMC and with the media for disseminating the information in would-be affected areas. Kung titingnan natin marami na tayo experience zero casualty pag babatayan except for Yolanda dahil exceptional yung strength nito compared dun sa 1897 bagyo na nangyari dun sa lugar (in Visayas) more than 1,000 din ang namatay compared ngayon ang population at during 1987 malaki ang diperensiya pero kung percentage wise compared dun sa 1897 typhoon.”

Malano also said that agency continues to support education and training programs for its meteorologists after some weathermen resign for a better field.

”They (weathermen) continue working kung may nabawas mas more ang nadagdag sa ngayon mas dumami may pinagraduate tayo 16 Bachelor of Science of Meteorologist,” he said, adding that they also have two set of graduates for meteorologist training 30 each set for a total of 60.

”Sinasabi ko nga hindi lang propesyon ng meteorologist umaalis siguro naamplified laging nakikita yung iba kinukuha sa TV network and I’m proud dahil resident sa halip na kawalan nakakatulong dahil nandun yung knowledge naipapahayag niya pa ng maayos dun,” he explained.