Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, November 16) — Several hydrometeorological stations in the Cordillera Administrative Region now lay dormant as state weather bureau PAGASA suspended the project that would have funded their repair.
Albert Mogol, regional director of CAR’s Office of Civil Defense, told lawmakers on Monday that the agency’s ability to inform the public of rainfall-related hazards is being hampered by the inoperable machines.
“Marami pong non-functioning hydromet stations and could not be maintained or upgraded since the optimization project was suspended as of August 2020,” Mogol said during a hearing of the Special Committee on North Luzon Growth Quadrangle on Typhoon Ulysses’ impact.
“Ito po ay matagal nang problema ng ating director ng PAGASA sa north kasi meron tayong PAGASA station in Tuguegarao, nandoon yung main. Meron din sa Baguio. Meron tayong doppler radar na mine-maintain sa side ng Casiguran,” he added.
[Translation: This has been a longstanding problem of the PAGASA director in the north, because we have a PAGASA station in Tuguegarao, that’s where the main one is. There is also one in Baguio. We have a doppler radar being maintained in Casiguran.]
PAGASA’s website defines a hydrometeorological station as one “that observes meteorological and hydrological elements.” These include automated rain/water level gauge stations, tandem stations, automatic weather stations and warning stations.
In a letter dated Aug. 27, 2020 and addressed to local government units with hydrometeorological stations, PAGASA hydrometeorology division chief Roy Badilla said the weather bureau has temporarily suspended its “optimization project” for the stations and hydrometeorology equipment as of July 1, 2020.
As a result of the suspension, Badilla said the technical personnel in charge of maintaining the stations have been put on limbo as they are still awaiting renewal of their job order contracts.
“Henceforth, all requested station repairs and replacements cannot be addressed until job order contracts are approved,” the letter read.
Mogol shared a copy of the letter during the hearing. He said OCD’s ability to inform the public of weather hazards will improve if there will be funding for the maintenance of hydrometeorological stations.
“Kung meron tayong effective and efficient early warning system, makakatulong ito sa early evacuation ng mga tao natin on the downstream,” Mogol said.
[Translation: If there is an effective and efficient warning system, this would help in the early evacuation of the people who live downstream.]
