The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has inked a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with officials of Oriental Mindoro for the Hydromet Project, a component of Project Noah or Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards.
The ceremonial MOA signing took place last April 16, 2013 in conjunction with the opening ceremony of the 2nd Regional Contest and Exhibits ? MIMAROPA held at the Filipiniana Hotel in Calapan City, Oriental Mindoro.
Project Noah is one of DOST?s centerpiece programs which fuses science and technology to come up with high-impact disaster management and prevention solutions.
The Hydromet Project dovetails with this aim by using state-of-the-art weather tracking equipment to provide a better picture of the country?s surface waters.
Data from the equipment will help experts and leaders make informed decision during severe weather conditions and floods.
The project is being implemented by DOST with the local government units of Calapan City, Baco, Naujan, Victoria, and Bansud in Oriental Mindoro ? one of the provinces comprising the MIMAROPA region or Region IV-B.
Under the Hydromet Project, DOST?s Advanced Science and Technology Institute will develop weather tracking equipment such as automated rain gauges, water level monitoring sensors, and automated weather stations.
These devices will be installed all over the Philippines, especially along the country?s 18 major river basins.
In the case of Oriental Mindoro, the equipment will be installed at the Calapan River Basin which runs through the capital city of Calapan and the municipalities of Baco, Naujan, Victoria, and Bansud.
During the National Consultative Meeting on the Hydromet Project held at the DOST Region 2 office in Tuguegarao from April 15-16, 2013, Region IV-B has committed to install 16 weather tracking devices in 16 sites all over the region. Of this number, nine are automated rain gauges while seven are water level monitoring sensors.
As of April 17, 2013, all 17 regions in the country have committed to build a total of 525 devices in 427 identified installation sites.
?Under the project, we are under strict orders of President Aquino to install a total of 500 weather tracking equipment by the end of May, or if worse comes to worst, by mid-June, covering the whole country,? said Project NOAH staff Alan Taule.
Of the total number of devices indicated in the summary report, more than 400 have already been put in place.
?However, there are still many parts of the Philippines where installation sites have yet to be identified. But at present, I believe we are on track,? said Taule. — Angelica A. de Leon, DOST-STII
