More DOST flood monitors set up in NCR

MANILA, Philippines—For accurate, real-time weather and flood data, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) is installing 10 more weather monitoring equipment across the metropolis, under a partnership with Smart Communications and Digitel Mobile Philippines.

The DOST-National Capital Region office on Monday signed an agreement with the telecom firms for the colocation of automated rain gauges and water level monitoring stations. It will increase to 27 the number of monitoring stations in Metro Manila, whose readings will be transmitted to the agency’s central database four times per hour using Smart’s wireless networks as well as those of Digitel’s Sun Cellular system.

The first monitors were earlier installed at Smart cell sites in Bagbaguin, Caloocan City; Mapulang Lupa, General T. De Leon, Pio Valenzuela Elementary School, Dampalit Elementary School and Dalandan, Valenzuela City; the Sun cell sites in San Jose, Navotas City; Potrero Elementary School, Malabon City; Ususan and the DOST compound in Taguig City; Quezon City Science High School; National Center for Mental Health, Mandaluyong City; Quezon City Polytechnic University; Paliko and Tunasan Bridges in Muntinlupa; and Poblacion and Tunasan, also in Muntinlupa.

The additional monitoring stations will be set up at Smart cell sites at Camarin II and Interville III in Caloocan City; Polytechnic University of the Philippines and De la Salle University, Manila City; Talon 2 and Ayala Southvale, Las Piñas City; Our Lady of Perpetual Succor College, Marikina City; Quirino Memorial Medical Center, Quezon City; Sandoval Bridge and Nagpayong Elementary School, Pasig City.

Science and Technology Assistant Secretary Raymund Liboro said data gathered from weather monitoring stations would help the DOST develop a computerized flood forecasting model.

Liboro also serves as coexecutive director of Project Noah (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards), which many local governments had credited for giving timely, life-saving data and flood warnings during major weather disturbances.

The DOST has so far installed flood warning systems in 258 rivers and 18 river basins nationwide, the official added. Jeannette I. Andrade