Fund released for weather radar in Subic
President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo recently approved the release of money from the President's Social Fund (PSF) for the purchase of a third Doppler weather radar, a Cabinet official confirmed on Saturday.
"Such move aims to further help authorities forecast with more accuracy position and intensity of precipitation so people can plan and prepare accordingly," Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Estrella Alabastro said as government continued pushing its preventive approach to disaster management.
She said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is preparing to bid out supply of such radar which costs an estimated P87 million and which DOST will install in Cebu province.
Authorities are optimistic better forecasting through such radars will help mitigate economic and non-economic damage arising from inclement weather.
In a study, World Bank noted damage arising from such and other natural disasters that struck the Philippines from 1970 to 2000 might have averaged over P15 billion annually.
To boost the government's weather forecasting capability, Alabastro said President Arroyo also earlier ordered the release of PSF money for two other Doppler radars to be located in Subic, Zambales and Tagaytay City in Cavite.
Alabastro hopes the DBM's final bidding for supply of these facilities can be concluded soon.
"The President's decision to purchase these radars is a milestone in government's weather service since we've been using qualitative analysis of images only to forecast precipitation," she said.
The DOST is targeting to purchase and install soon five other Doppler radars to complement the operation of the three PSF-financed units.
"The House and Senate approved the inclusion of some P200 million in our 2007 proposed budget for two of these radars while we're negotiating for three others through a grant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency," Alabastro said.
This week, rain from super typhoon 'Reming' triggered in Albay province landslides that buried scores of residents at the foot of Mayon Volcano.
"Bicol sustained about 466 millimeters of rain when this typhoon struck that region," DOST Undersecretary Graciano Yumul said during the Kapihan sa Sulo forum.
He noted this volume of rainfall is about 133 percent more than the normal Philippine average.
Department of Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap earlier placed the total rice and corn production loss from 'Reming' at about P567 million.
He attributed this to the projected P250 million and P317 million losses in rice and corn production, respectively.
Between 50 and 60 percent of the country's total 150,000 hectares of rice land as well as 11,000 to 12,000 hectares out of the total 40,000 to 50,000 hectares of land planted to corn were affected, he reported.
Yap said corn production suffered more since this crop is more susceptible to water damage than rice which can still recover from such havoc unless it is already in its flowering stage.
He estimated that farmers can still recover about 80 percent of damaged rice plantings. (PNA)
"Such move aims to further help authorities forecast with more accuracy position and intensity of precipitation so people can plan and prepare accordingly," Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Estrella Alabastro said as government continued pushing its preventive approach to disaster management.
She said the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) is preparing to bid out supply of such radar which costs an estimated P87 million and which DOST will install in Cebu province.
Authorities are optimistic better forecasting through such radars will help mitigate economic and non-economic damage arising from inclement weather.
In a study, World Bank noted damage arising from such and other natural disasters that struck the Philippines from 1970 to 2000 might have averaged over P15 billion annually.
To boost the government's weather forecasting capability, Alabastro said President Arroyo also earlier ordered the release of PSF money for two other Doppler radars to be located in Subic, Zambales and Tagaytay City in Cavite.
Alabastro hopes the DBM's final bidding for supply of these facilities can be concluded soon.
"The President's decision to purchase these radars is a milestone in government's weather service since we've been using qualitative analysis of images only to forecast precipitation," she said.
The DOST is targeting to purchase and install soon five other Doppler radars to complement the operation of the three PSF-financed units.
"The House and Senate approved the inclusion of some P200 million in our 2007 proposed budget for two of these radars while we're negotiating for three others through a grant from the Japan International Cooperation Agency," Alabastro said.
This week, rain from super typhoon 'Reming' triggered in Albay province landslides that buried scores of residents at the foot of Mayon Volcano.
"Bicol sustained about 466 millimeters of rain when this typhoon struck that region," DOST Undersecretary Graciano Yumul said during the Kapihan sa Sulo forum.
He noted this volume of rainfall is about 133 percent more than the normal Philippine average.
Department of Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap earlier placed the total rice and corn production loss from 'Reming' at about P567 million.
He attributed this to the projected P250 million and P317 million losses in rice and corn production, respectively.
Between 50 and 60 percent of the country's total 150,000 hectares of rice land as well as 11,000 to 12,000 hectares out of the total 40,000 to 50,000 hectares of land planted to corn were affected, he reported.
Yap said corn production suffered more since this crop is more susceptible to water damage than rice which can still recover from such havoc unless it is already in its flowering stage.
He estimated that farmers can still recover about 80 percent of damaged rice plantings. (PNA)
posted by OlongapoCity Zambales at
6:48 AM
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