PAGASA: New doppler radars operational in 3 months

The weather bureau said it would have better readings on rainfall as three new doppler radars are set to be operational in the next few months. Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) chief Nathaniel Servando said three doppler radars —the equipment used to measure and locate rainfall— will soon rise in Catanduanes, Cebu, and Aparri provinces. The three equipment are part of the weather bureau's doppler radar project, which aims to install these vital meteorological forecasting equipment on key points in Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao to give them a more accurate reading of rainfall at any time of the year. “If we have radars to cover the whole country, we can track better the storms and rainfall. The radars recently helped us predict where the typhoons will land. It will give Pagasa more accurate forecasts on rainfall, which we hope will minimize the damage and impact," Servando said. Since the country's weather is dominated by monsoons and typhoons, doppler radars are vital in tracking the amount and movement of precipitation. At present, the Philippines have five doppler radars scattered all over the country. These radars are located in Hinatuan, Surigao del Sur, Tagaytay, Batangas, Subic, Zambales, Baguio City, and Baler, Aurora. Officials have said that the current number of doppler radar facilities is not enough to give Pagasa accurate forecasts. Doppler radars usually have a coverage of 480 kilometers. Some radars also have blind spots due to mountain ranges and other obstructions, making them insufficient to cover certain regions. The Catanduanes and Aparri radars are funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, while the construction of the Cebu radar was shouldered by the government. The Cebu doppler facility is expected to be operational next month. “It's almost finished. We just have to work on the wires inside the station," Servando said. Another radar scheduled to be installed in the Virac, Catanduanes station in November. Servando said they hope to use the Virac doppler by January. Meanwhile, construction and ground survey work have started for the Aparri station, which will be turned on sometime in 2012. Aside from these equipment, Pagasa also eyes to install doppler radars in Tampakan, South Cotabato and Eastern Samar, which were all part of the agency's 2011 budget. The Eastern Samar radar is seen to be operational in 2013. Another doppler radar, which was not part of the 2011 budget, will be installed in Panay Island, either in Antique or Iloilo. This will be part of the additional P425 million budget for the weather bureau approved by President Aquino, Servando said. Meanwhile, the government will soon implement a carrot-and-stick approach when it comes to guarding the equipment of the weather office. Science Undersecretary Graciano Yumul Jr. said they welcomed President Aquino's decision to declare as urgent the bills addressing the pilferage of the instruments of the Pagasa and the Philippine Institute for Volcanology and Seismology, a problem that has vexed the weather bureau and its technical partners that donated machines and equipment. While imposing stiffer penalties to those who tamper and sell the government's scientific gadgets, the bills also allows for “incentives" to be given to those who could provide information on those who steal the equipment. According to House Bill 4010, PAGASA and PHIVOLCS have installed equipment and instruments to gather data on rain, wind, flood level, and seismic activities of volcanoes and impending tsunamis to prepare and protect community people from natural hazards. “Unfortunately these instruments have been stolen, pilfered, dismantled or plainly destroyed. PHIVOLCS have complained of stolen installed seismic instruments to monitor activities of volcanoes. Most recently, in four instances in 2010 cables of PAGASA flood monitoring equipment that were donated by the Japanese Government were stolen in Bugallon, Pangasinan; Bayambang, Pangasinan; Sta. Maria, Pangasinan; and Tibag, Tarlac," it added. Yumul said water level sensors, metal cables, rain gauges and seismographs of the Pagasa and Phivolcs were being dismantled by unscrupulous men and sold to junk shops. Recently, they lost P250,000 worth of copper cables, he said. “These are early warning systems. These should not be stolen because they help save lives," Yumul said. “They should realize that when they steal these instruments, they are harming their communities," he added. Yumul said it was important to have these legislations to strengthen Pagasa's forecasting capabilities and make the agency more responsive to disasters. He noted that the loss of rain gauges in the lower part of the Marikina River contributed to the loss of lives and properties when Ondoy hit Metro Manila and Luzon on September 2009. The rain gauges, Yumul said, were part of the early warning system of the Markina river system and the dams that feed into it. Yumul said the bills filed at the House of Representatives by Agham partylist would criminalize these acts and impose very stiff penalties on those who were found guilty of pilferage. “It shall be unlawful to dismantle, disassemble, remove, transfer, or in any way tamper or steal any disaster warning and risk-reduction instruments installed by national and local governments or non-government organizations for the purpose of gathering meteorological and seismological data and information," House Bill 4010 said. “ It is likewise unlawful to store, keep in inventory such disaster warning and risk-reduction instruments without authority from the government or any of its instrumentalities for any purpose whatsoever," it added. Mere possession of Pagasa and Phivolcs equipment are grounds for criminal charges, the bills said. The bills also criminalizes the tampering, the selling, and the purchase of government equipment. Those who steal weather and disaster risk reducing equipment face 12-15 years in prison. They also could be fined up to P300,000. The same penalties face those who buy and sell the instruments. Those tamper with Pagasa and Phivolcs equipment could be jailed up to 10 years. They would also be fined P150,000. The bills also made sure that people who help Pagasa and Phivolcs identify those who engage with pilferage will be compensated. “Incentives shall be provided to a person or persons who will provide information leading to the apprehension of violators of this Act. The nature and amount of incentives shall be provided for in the implementing rules and regulations of this Act," the proposal said. — TJD, GMA News