Weather station in Apayao sought

LUNA, APAYAO – The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is being asked to set up its own weather station in the

province which would support in the gathering of weather and flooding data.

During the Regional Science and Technology Week held at the provincial capitol, PAGASA Region 1 Officer In Charge Engineer Flordelina Baldonado explained the setting up of the weather station which was earlier offered by Apayao Governor Elias Bulut Jr. was timely since data and information on where floods may occur would give appropriate time for the agriculture sector to do necessary actions to prepare from flooding.

“There are a lot of sectors needing weather data and information particularly the agricultural sector and with the creation of the weather station here in Apayao, the digital data gathered by PAGASA would be an added value in terms of Disaster Risk Reduction and Management or DRRM,” Baldonado said.

Being one of the frontline services in delivering timely and accurate information, PAGASA welcomed the offer. PAG-ASA identified the Abulog River of Cagayan Province including Apayao as possible areas affected by flooding which it hopes will be addressed through the use of timely digital data on weather information.

“At present, PAG ASA is part of the promotions of science and technology efforts by accepting on the job trainees aside from training down to the elementary, high school and college level on the awareness of Disaster Risk Reduction Management and other sciences with the objective of molding of students to be interested with science and technology,” Baldonado added.

Although Apayao have not recorded any casualties during Typhoon Ompong, agricultural products were destroyed particularly rice, corn, cassava and banana.

“The creation of a PAGASA weather station in the province of Apayao is very timely since it would help in the planning of production strategies of our agricultural farmers. We have been greatly affected by Typhoon Ompong but we will now be assured of timely information which would help mitigate the effects of future typhoons in the province,” Bulut Jr. stated.

The present regional station of PAG - ASA is located in Tuguegarao City with its radar stations located in Mount Santo Tomas in Benguet Province which covers regions 1,2, Central Luzon and the Cordillera region.