DOST Eastern Visayas rehabs 128 early warning system for La Niña

TACLOBAN CITY, May 30 (PNA) -- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is rehabilitating 128 early warning systems in Eastern Visayas in preparation for the expected heavy rainfall towards the second half of this year.

DOST Regional Director Edgardo Esperancilla said 60 percent of these facilities have been repaired as of this week. The target is to complete the rehabilitation works next month.

“In preparation for La Niña, we have to fix warning systems to ensure more accurate, integrated, and responsive disaster prevention and mitigation system, especially in high-risk areas,” Esperancilla said.

Of the 128 early warning systems, 102 of these are hydrometeorological (hydromet) devices set up in 2012 and 26 are disaster early warning system installed in 2014.

Hydromet include the automated weather station (AWS), automated rain gauge (ARG) and the water level monitoring system (WLMS) produce data that enhance local disaster management.

The AWS measures wind speed direction, air temperature, humidity, pressure and the amount of rainfall, its duration and intensity. The ARG, on the other hand, gathers the amount of rainfall incident in an area.

Another device, the WLMS, measures the rate by which the water level rises within the river system or bodies of water.

“All three devices automatically send data to a central base station on a pre-determined interval. The data gathered from these stations are being used by government agencies for further risk evaluation and hazard analysis,” Esperancilla explained.

The 26 units of disaster early warning systems were set up in major river basins in the region’s six provinces. A major component of the project is the community-based flood early warning system piloted in Binahaan River in central Leyte.

Each installed system has the ability to send warnings to low-lying communities six hours before the water surge, hence giving residents enough time to prepare.

Early warning systems are designed to substantially reduce casualties and damages to movable properties.

Most of these warning systems, according to the DOST official were damaged by super typhoon Yolanda in 2013. Some were destroyed by weaker typhoons in 2014.

The state weather bureau earlier warned of a developing La Niña, which will bring heavy rainfall in most parts of the country from July to December 2016. (PNA)
BNB/SARWELL Q. MENIANO