LGUs, PAGASA to set up local weather station

The local government units (LGUs) of Gerona in Tarlac, Irosin in Sorsogon, and Tubigon in Bohol on Monday signed a deal with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to set up their respective Automatic Weather Station (AWS).   Rice Watch and Action Network (R1) said in a report Monday the initiative will give farmers sufficient warning on extreme weather conditions so they can mitigate the impact of climate change on their lives and properties.   PAGASA will provide technical assistance in the operation of local weather instruments and relay climate information for the LGUs. The state weather forecaster will help install, maintain and calibrate weather instruments once the agro-meteorological stations are in place. It will also train people to man the stations.   The will set up the agro-meteorological stations based on World Meteorological standards, and shoulder the maintenance of the buildings and instruments, and salaries of observation and ground personnel.   Under the memorandum of understanding between the LGUs and PAGASA, the local governments of Gerona, Irosin and Tubigon must sustain the agriculture sector’s Climate Field School program for climate change mitigation.   R1 is urging other local governments to take on the example started by the three LGUs.   “With extreme weather conditions creating unimaginable damage to lives and properties in different parts of the country, we encourage other local governments to follow this example and put matters into their hands through planning of interventions,” said R1 convenor Jessica Cantos.   “We only need to tap the appropriate government agencies, break some of the bureaucratic layers, and identify ways of working together,” she added. — RRD/VS, GMA News