Pagasa seeks help of people to stop theft of instruments

CITY OF SAN FERNANdo—With more and stronger typhoons expected this year, communities in Central and northern Luzon should help protect the upgraded flood forecasting and warning systems (FFWS) in the basins of the Pampanga and Agno rivers, where large floods had occurred since the 1970s.

Dr. Susan Espinueva, chief of the hydrometeorological division of Pagasa (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) made the appeal on the heels of thefts in four of 30 fully automatic rainfall and water level gauging stations there since January.

Grounding rods to protect equipment from lightning were stolen from three upland stations of the Agno River Basin FFWS (ARBFFWS) between October and December last year.

President Aquino is set to inaugurate the stations in Rosales, Pangasinan, on March 24, Espinueva said in Thursday’s briefing to reporters touring some projects funded by Japan’s Official Development Aid (ODA).

Robbers also fled with 230 meters of data cable from the Mayapyap station at the Nueva Ecija side of the Pampanga River Basin FFWS (PRBFFWS). Fitted with sensors, the cables are submerged in the river and transmit data through a telemetry system.

While the thefts did not paralyze the entire FFWS, localized data were not obtained though, it was learned. Pagasa replaced the items in January with imported pieces from Japan, she said.

The thefts, Espinueva said, showed the need to involve more the communities in helping secure these “life-saving facilities.”

“We were embarrassed that these incidents happened,” she said, adding that Pagasa reinstalled the cables at the expense of the Philippine government.

Built in 1972 on a $260,000 grant from Japan’s ODA, the PRBFFWS is the oldest of its kind in the Philippines and in Asia, Espinueva said. The Agno, Bicol and Cagayan FFWs began operations in 1982.

A series of state-of-the-art equipment were fitted into the PRBFFWS in 2009 on a P400-million grant and into the ARBFFWS on a P253-million grant, both from Japan.

Japan has poured $20.560 billion in ODA loans, grants and technical assistance from 1967 to 2008, according to Hirochika Namekawa, second secretary of the economic section of the Embassy of Japan.

Former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo ordered the transfer of the PRBFFWS center from Quezon City to the City of San Fernando. The center has a multiplex radio that is safe from cell phone signal interference.

Espinueva said Pagasa has signed agreements with local police in securing the sites. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon