DOST-PAGASA upgrades weather, early flood forecasting capability

The Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration or DOST-PAGASA is enhancing its current capability in weather and flood forecasting with funds from the Disbursement Acceleration Program (DAP) of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in late 2011.
PAGASA was allotted P 150M for the project titled Enhancement of Doppler Radar Network for National Weather Watch, Accurate Forecasting and Flood Early Warning. These include the construction of Doppler radar towers in Iloilo, Zamboanga City and Busuanga, Palawan. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) was tasked to do the construction of the radar towers.
The project also includes the procurement of one (1) Doppler Weather Surveillance Radar System (DWSR). It will be installed in Iloilo at the western seaboard to complete the coverage and monitoring of weather systems in the country.
The Doppler radars are capable of monitoring the rain clouds in specific areas for a particular time period. The rain clouds can be seen and measured in terms of the intensity and volume of precipitation or rain, thereby enabling a more accurate weather forecasting.
To date, there are 10 Doppler radars installed in strategically located areas in Subic, Baler, Baguio, Tagaytay, Cebu, Tampakan, Hinatuan, Virac, Aparri and Guiuan. The other two radars to be installed next year will be in Quezon, Palawan and Basco, Batanes. By 2014, DOST-PAGASA aims to have a total of 15 Doppler radars operational to monitor weather conditions all over the Philippines.
With the accelerated funding, DOST has likewise managed to accelerate the country’s Doppler radar development and advanced the deployment of all Doppler radars by 2014, a target that was previous set by 2016.
The DAP is a funding mechanism instituted by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to fast track the disbursement of funds for priority projects of the government that include, among others, public works, agricultural infrastructure, housing relocation and resettlement, local government units assistance, rehabilitation of the railway system and weather forecasting. [PNA]