Weather app for farmers, fisherfolks launched

A new free mobile phone app open up and give farmers and fisherfolk nationwide access to latest weather and climate information from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

Launched by the state weather bureau in Metro Manila on Friday, the mobile app, called “Payong Pagasa,” features the latest data, assessment, and forecast for rainfall and temperature, monthly climate assessment and outlook, as well as daily and 10day weather forecasts and advisories that farmers and fisherfolk can use to better plan their activities for agriculture and fisheries.

“The app will help facilitate access to Pagasa’s information,” noted geographic information system specialist Guia Marie Mortel of non-government group Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Philippines on the sidelines of the launching.

She said through the app, people could readily access the necessary weather information using their Android smartphones, eliminating the need for computers.

FAO and the Department of Agriculture (DA) are working on several projects that consider weather and climate information from Pagasa, she said.

Among such projects is integrating agriculture in the country’s national adaptation plans, she said.

Authorities continue promoting initiatives that seek to help the Philippines better adapt to climate change.

Studies show the Philippines is among the countries most vulnerable to impacts of climate change, such as the increasing onslaught of extreme weather events and sea level and temperature rise.

Improving access to Pagasa’s information would help boost agricultural production amid climate change, noted DA chief agriculturist Christopher Morales.

“Agriculture is the most weather-dependent sector,” he said at an earlier forum in Metro Manila this week, highlighting Pagasa information’s importance to food production.

Pagasa Climate Monitoring and Prediction Section Officer-In-Charge Analiza Solis said people could download the app from the Google Play Store.

Solid said the app would be available on Apple’s iOS in about two weeks.

“People can opt to change the app’s language from English to Filipino,” she also said at the launch.