Technology enters scene in flood forecasting in rivers of Pangasinan

LINGAYEN, Pangasinan—The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has installed water level monitoring instruments in strategic areas and waterways in Pangasinan to improve flood forecasting in the province as the rainy season starts.

The DOST said the “hybrid hydromet” instrument, which is a combination of a water level sensor and an automatic rain gauge, would be installed in bridges traversing major rivers in Pangasinan. Automatic rain gauges were also installed in 10 towns and cities.

Felipe Andrada, DOST provincial director, said the data generated by the instruments would be used by government and disaster-response agencies to warn residents of floods.

“We hope that with the data generated and communicated to the people, they would be given ample time to prepare or leave an area if needed,” said Andrada.

Data on rainfall and water level will be posted on the DOST website, he said.

Andrada said the automatic rain gauges and the water level monitoring system are components of the DOST’s Project Noah (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards).

He said the hybrid hydromet has been installed at Calvo Bridge (Bayambang), Hector-Mendoza Bridge (Alcala), Macalong and Tagamusing Bridges (Urdaneta City), Banila Bridge (Umingan), Ambayaoan Bridge (San Nicolas), Viray Bridge (Natividad), Aloragat Bridge (Binalonan), Magallanes Bridge (Tayug) and Dipalo Bridge (San Quintin).

The DOST will also install automatic rain gauges in the Agno River Flood Control System’s monitoring stations in the towns of Urbiztondo, Malasiqui, Bayambang, Rosales, Sison and Pozorrubio and in the cities of Urdaneta and San Carlos.

These are in addition to the two automatic rain gauges installed last year at the Pangasinan State University campuses in Sta. Maria and Infanta towns.

Andrada said the automatic rain gauges would replace manual gauges that need to be checked twice daily. The automatic rain gauges track and record rainfall volume and duration. Yolanda Sotelo and Gabriel Cardinoza, Inquirer Northern Luzon