RIVER PROTECTION – Engr. Valentin S. Saludes III (2nd from right), vice president and plant manager of Therma South Incorporated lead the signing of a memorandum of agreement on Tuesday, May 16, with the representatives of barangays Inawayan in Sta. Cruz, Davao del Sur; Binugao in Toril Davao City; and the Environmental Management Bureau of DENR-11 for the implementation of “Adopt an Estero/Waterbody Program”. (Alexander Lopez/davaotoday.com)
DAVAO CITY, Philippines–The Department of Science and Technology here said it will install this year additional early flood warning devices in various communities to beef up in the region.
“We’ve installed as early as 2010 and is currently an on-going (with the project) and we have the new flood early warning system to be installed this year,” DOST Region XI Assistant Regional Director Mirasol G. Domingo said in a press conference on Wednesday, May 17.
Domingo said that the installation of the early warning system is in partnership with the state weather bureau PAG-ASA.
Dubbed as the “DEWS Project” or the Deployment of Early Warning Systems (DEWS), these early warning devices will be installed to flood-prone areas in Davao region.
DEWS project is one component of DOST’s Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards). The project was developed by Filipino scientists from DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI) which was geared to improve flood monitoring capabilities.
The system is composed of different monitoring and warning instruments such as Water Level Monitoring Station (WLMS), Automatic Rain Gauge (ARG), WLMS and ARG Tandem and Warning Stations.
In Davao region, 12 ARGs and six WLM were installed in selected river basins in Mabini, Nabunturan, Tagum City, Panabo City, Davao City, Hagonoy, Magsaysay, Caraga and Cateel.
According to DEWS Project Assistant Project Leader Oskar D. Cruz, the installation of early warning devices will attempt to cover all the river basins in the region.
“The objective is to cover all the river basins that were not covered by the regional plan for major river basins. As of now PAGASA and DOST is currently doing the same project in the 18 major river basins all over the country,” he said.
DOST-ASTI Science Research Specialist Ian C. Mosquera, the early warning devices will warn the communities when water levels reach a certain level. The flood advisories will be based on rainfall intensities and assessment of water levels.
“Each water level has a corresponding sound with instructions. So upon reaching a certain level, it will be seen on the website and the Risk Reduction Management Office will give signal on the warning post on the communities concerned then a siren will be heard for the residents to be alert and ready for evacuation,” Mosquera said.
City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Officer Emmanuel R. Jaldon said the early warning systems will be of great help to the community especially to disaster and flood-prone areas.
“It’s (project) more on the community level. In this case, these are the communities along the riverbanks. Once there are hydro metrological issues that can cause flooding, the sensor alarms and warns the nearest community affected,” Jaldon said.
“We are empowering the barangays the municipalities to use their own knowledge. We’ll give them the tools that are automated and teach them how to use it and apply it as warning on floods,” Cruz said. (davaotoday.com)
