DOST, Smart install rain gauges to boost disaster preparedness
CEBU, Jan 6 (PIA) – With the number of devastating typhoons visiting the country each year, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) believes in strengthening the country’s weather monitoring system.
DOST-6 regional director Rowen Gelonga noted that before 2000, the Philippines is visited by powerful typhoons every three to five years. Now, we experience devastating typhoons every year citing the recent storm Sendong that killed more than a thousand people in Northern Mindanao.
Most of the lives lost during these typhoons are not because of strong winds or storm surges. It’s really because of the flooding, Gelonga added.
This propelled DOST and the leading wireless services provider Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) to complete the installation of five Automatic Rain Gauges (ARG) in the towns of Alimodian, Cabatuan, Maasin, Pavia and in Jaro, Iloilo City.
The new installations complement the other ARGs installed by DOST across the Western Visayas region.
Gelonga said Smart also pledged to help fund the installation of Automatic Water Level Sensors that will alert the communities once the river reaches critical level.
DOST’s ARGs track rain water volume and rainfall duration. Through the Smart SIM card, the equipment transmits rainfall data for further analysis, every 15 minutes.
This speeds up and makes more accurate the previous process of manually gauging rainfall through a measuring stick and sending the data at least once every 24 hours.
The DOST says the ARGs are just “part of one system that will benefit Iloilo , and eventually the whole country” in terms of preparing for disasters and helping save lives.
“We hope that over time, we can actually generate more data and come up with better correlations between rainfall and flooding. With the ARGs in consortium with other equipment plus the water level sensors that we are installing all over the region, the LGUs will be more prepared for adverse weather events,” said Gelonga.
Smart’s Public Affairs head Ramon Isberto meanwhile reaffirms the company’s commitment to help government institutions and LGUs in times of disasters.
“Aside from ensuring the continuity of our communication services in times of disasters, we are also committing to explore the use of our technologies to help our government improve our weather monitoring system, in all ways possible,” said Isberto. “The ARGs in Iloilo are just some of the rain gauges we have installed in several high-risk areas all over the country.”
Mayor Juanito Alipao of Alimodian, one of the municipalities that received an ARG, meanwhile thanked Smart during the turn-over ceremony held recently.
“The rain gauge is a guide for us, and it will help us keep our communities alert to possible calamities brought about by heavy rains and typhoons,” Alipao said.
Iloilo is one of the calamity-prone provinces in the country. In 2008, it was among the worst hit by typhoon Frank that caused mudslides and flooding in Iloilo city and other municipalities, displacing thousands of families. (MBCNewman/PIA-7 with reports from SMART)
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DENR-7 creates a monitoring team to evaluate greening program
By Hazel Gloria
CEBU CITY, January 6 (PIA) --- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) in Central Visayas will create a regional validation team to continuously and periodically monitor and evaluate the implementation of the National Greening Program (NGP) by various field offices in the region.
This is a necessary measure to heighten transparency and accountability, according to DENR-7 regional executive director Maximo Dichoso.
This came after DENR Secretary Ramon J. P. Paje ordered the notarization of all reports submitted by DENR field offices playing key roles in the implementation of the NGP in an apparent move to remove doubts on the veracity of NGP reports submitted to his office, Dichoso said.
“It may be recalled that Secretary Paje has also sought the help of the Commission on Audit (COA) for the audit of some 1.5 billion tree seedlings that would be produced and planted in 1.5 million hectares under the NGP between 2011 up to 2016,” the director explained.
The NGP in Central Visayas with a budget of P65.988M has posted an accomplishment of 109.16 percent or 6,148 hectares out of 5,632 hectares of area coverage and planted 3.868 million seedlings or an increase of 37 percent of its target of 2.816 million seedlings, since its regional launch in June last year.
A number of people’s organizations (POs) in Central Visayas benefited on the project for seedlings production and maintenance.
“I am forming a validating team to conduct a random validation on the reports submitted by our field offices and requiring them to first appear before a notary public attorney to swear on the correctness of their accomplishment reports before I will forward a notarized regional accomplishment report to DENR Central Office,” Dichoso added.
The intention is also to raise the agency’s competence in providing accurate reports to our people as required by P-Noy and Secretary Paje, he explained, adding that the reports will in turn be submitted to COA for validation.
The team will also be looking into the survival rate of the seedlings planted to ensure maintenance and protection, seed collection and storage, and production of clonal planting materials.
“By ensuring close monitoring and coordination among various stakeholders and articulating clear definition of roles and accountabilities and deliverables, the project will be executed in accordance to its purpose of greening and environmental protection,” he added.
In Central Visayas, 631 planting sites are set to be validated. Of the 631, ten are the biggest sites planted and these are: Cabatuanan, Basay; Sab-ahan and Sto. Niño, Bais City; Tayak, Siaton; and Calango, Zamboanguita, all in Negros Oriental.
Other sites also include in Nangka, Boljoon; Gen. Climaco, Toledo City; and Kambanog, Dumanjug, all in Cebu; and Cantubod, Danao; and Sikatuna, Talibon, all in Bohol. (mbcn/hfg/PIA-7 & DENR-7)
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DENR-7 urges public to minimize wastes during Sinulog
By Hazel Gloria
CEBU CITY , January 6 (PIA) --- The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR-7) in Central Visayas urges everyone bring separate trash bags for biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste and minimize trash by using re-usable utensils during the Sinulog celebrations.
DENR-7 regional executive director Maximo Dichoso further advises people to bring only sufficient amount of food and drinks placed in reusable or recyclable containers; bring home any leftovers for reheating, pet food, or compost material and do not burn the garbage as it will contribute to air pollution.
He also urged the local government units and business establishments in Cebu and Mandaue Cities to provide waste receptacles in strategic areas during the Sinulog celebrations that would, all together, push segregation of trash.
Thousands of Cebuanos and other local and foreign tourists are expected to troop to the streets on January 15 for the celebration cum parade procession for the Feast of the Santo Niño.
“You could just imagine the volume of garbage and wastes we will be generating for this occasion that we love to celebrate annually!” DENR-7 regional executive director Maximo Dichoso said.
It can be noted that Cebu City has an estimated waste discharge of 511 tons per day or 0.7 kilogram/person/day, Dichoso bared.
While Dichoso said it is tradition to celebrate, he also urged the public to also think about the environmental impacts of the celebration as “every human activity impacts on the environment and our natural resources.”
Scores of the uncollected and un-segregated wastes are left spread on the streets or in open lots, or find their way into and choke our rivers and esteros, posing risks to the health and safety of surrounding communities, he noted.
Dichoso also encourages the public to take the following initiatives in caring for the environment while enjoying the celebration.
“Our DENR Secretary Ramon J.P. Paje recently made an appeal to the public to seriously consider reducing garbage, especially those that are not recyclable and biodegradable, as it can be a major cause of flooding during heavy downpours,” he shared.
He enjoins all stakeholders to continue cleaning some of the waterways because there is so much more that remains to be done. (mbcn/hfg/PIA-7 & DENR-7)