PAGASA to build Doppler radar station in Bataan to improve weather forecasting

ABUCAY, Bataan — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) will build a Doppler radar station in Abucay town to improve the accuracy and timeliness of weather forecasts.

The radar station will be built at Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU) and is expected to cover Central Luzon, Metro Manila and parts of Southern Luzon.

“It has a minimum effective range of 400 kilometers, but it can extend up to 600 kilometers,” PAGASA administrator Nathaniel Servando said in a press conference.

“It will complement our other radar in Tagaytay. So Metro Manila will be fully covered even if one of the systems becomes non-operational,” he added.

The PAGASA-BPSU Doppler radar station is funded through the Office of Civil Defense's Disaster Reduction and Management Fund, with P200 million allocated for the equipment and P50 million for infrastructure.

Servando said the equipment contract had been awarded to a US-based manufacturer. Delivery, installation, testing and training are expected to take at least 24 months before the radar station can be commissioned.

Meanwhile, the contractor for the radar station's building is expected to be identified by November or early December.

“Once the contract is awarded, construction of the building will take about 12 months. So it will take a minimum of two years before the facility becomes operational,” Servando said.

With the addition of the PAGASA-BPSU Doppler radar station, the state weather bureau will have 20 Doppler radar stations across the country.

PAGASA is also planning to install two more radar stations in either Ilocos Norte or Ilocos Sur and Palawan.

The new facility “will enhance PAGASA's capacity to monitor weather systems, improve localized forecasts, and provide critical information to support disaster preparedness and response,” Servando said.

'More than survival'

With greater access to weather data, the PAGASA-BPSU Doppler radar station is expected to help government agencies, communities and disaster management officers prepare for and respond to potential weather-related hazards.

Department of Science and Technology Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said resilience should not only mean surviving disasters but also thriving despite their impacts.

“Resilience should be viewed not only as surviving but also as thriving. That would mean that we should manage the risk while continuing our progress towards economic development,” Solidum said.

He said the establishment of the radar station would give the public more time to prepare for disasters, respond to threats and save lives.

“Forecasting would let you prepare, but giving you the actual amount of rainfall, the wind speed and what can happen would also prepare you in advance, but most especially give you the most scientific data for you to decide better,” Solidum said.

PAGASA held the groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, Oct. 27, at BPSU, coinciding with the Central Luzon Regional Science, Technology and Innovation Week, held from Oct. 26 to 28 in Pampanga.— MCG, GMA News

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