Monday, June 21, 2010

Pagasa, South Korean agency spearhead flood forecasting project

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) are set to implement a $3-million flood forecasting project this month to help address the perennial problem of flooding in Metro Manila.

Pagasa administrator Prisco Nilo said the project includes the installation of automatic weather stations, rainfall gauging stations, and water level gauging stations in selected flood-prone areas in Metro Manila and Rizal province.

“This project will greatly enhance the flood forecasting capability of Pagasa in Metro Manila and its nearby areas,” Nilo said. 

He said all real-time rainfall data, including forecasts and warnings, will be made available to agencies involved in disaster management and local government units. 

Nilo stressed that the project will not only benefit Metro Manila but also residents of Rizal where some rainfall and automatic weather stations will also be installed. 

“These equipments can be utilized for the issuance of warnings for floods and rain-induced landslides in the area,” the Pagasa chief said. 

Last year, tropical cyclones “Ondoy” and “Pepeng” caused massive flooding in Metro Manila and its nearby areas, killing nearly a thousand of people and damaging billions of pesos worth of properties.

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