MFO4: Provision of Quality S&T Services

Several programs to upgrade the weather forecasting capability of the PAGASA were pursued and implemented through the Weather Branch (WB) during the year in review. This is in line with its mandate to provide protection against natural hazards and utilize scientific knowledge as an effective instrument to insure the safety, well-being and economic security of its entire people. The application of newly developed Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) techniques and methodologies served to further enhance the forecasting capability of PAGASA. The adoption of these techniques has provided weather forecasters with better tools in the analysis of meteorological parameters that are needed in the formulation of more accurate forecasts. The recent acquisition by PAGASA of the Aviation Information System (AvIS) and access to the World Area Forecasts System (WAFS) vastly improved meteorological aviation services to the air transport sector. The WAFS is a system developed by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) to improve the quality and consistency of en-route weather information provided to international aircraft operations and civil aviation, as well. It is aimed at promoting efficient air navigation for the safety and comfort of air travel.

In addition, issuances of daily five-day weather forecasts for twelve (12) water resources regions of the country and sea conditions for each domestic shipping zone are being provided to the Department of Agriculture as major component of their TEXT PANAHON program.

To strengthen its tropical cyclone forecasting capability, PAGASA embarked on an intensified radar rehabilitation program. Under the program, five (5) radar stations; namely: Guiuan, Baler, Virac, Baguio and Aparri were rehabilitated and made operational. Another important project, which started this year, is the “Establishment of Doppler Weather Radar Network for Disaster Prevention and Preparedness in Metro Manila”. The project involves installation of two Doppler weather radars, associated equipment and accessories. The use of Doppler radars will contribute significantly to the delivery of accurate and timely warning information related to meteorologically-induced natural hazards. The expected date of project completion is December 2006.

Regular activities such as timely and significantly issuance of weather advisories and severe weathers bulletins were done in time. Seventeen (17) tropical cyclone entered the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR) in 2005. These were diligently tracked and monitored, from the moment they develop way-out in the Pacific Ocean in their incipient stage, to maturity and dissipation. Figure 1 shows the tracks of the tropical cyclones for which, 423 warnings and 202 bulletins were issued. A total of 730 Public forecasts and 730 shipping forecasts prepared and issued during the year.

Hydrometeorological services provided by PAGASA through the Flood Forecasting Branch (FFB) were expanded so its presence may be felt more in the countryside. These are in the form of community-based Flood Forecasting and Warning System (FFWS) projects that aim to mitigate the effects of floods. FFWS involves the installation of five rainfall and two relay stations for major river systems in Agno and Pangasinan, and flood markers and water level gauges in the lower Pampanga River. LGUs are being encouraged to adopt the Community-based FFWS as a proactive way of co-managing and mitigating the impacts of flood events. The maintenance of flood forecasting and warning instruments were undertaken on a quarterly basis and flood forecasting methodologies and techniques were upgraded and tested for specific river basins. To address the interference problem in telecommunication, PAGASA employed the use of Short Messaging System (SMS) as back-up to the existing multiplex system. This is undertaken through the initiatives of the project Strengthening of Flood Forecasting and Warning Administration (FFWA), The pilot project was carried out in the Agno river basin in February 2005 and early 2006 in the Agno and Cagayan data transmission system. In addition, enhancement of personnel capability on hydrology the JICA short-term expert on Flood Forecasting Model conducted a series of training and workshops on flood simulation utilizing 2 models, storage function and stage to stage correlation. A total of 23 personnel participated and completed the course.

Information for specific application to flood disaster preparedness, prevention and mitigation consisted of 62 general basin flood bulletins (7 for Pampanga, 12 Agno, 16 Bicol and 27 Cagayan), 360 daily hydrological forecasts and 6 general flood advisories, in connection with the passage of tropical cyclones and occurrences of monsoon rains. In addition, operational hydrological services personnel conducted Information, Education and Communication (IEC) campaign in flood-prone communities. The activity focused on increasing the level of awareness of the population on flood hazards and corresponding mitigation measures.

As mandated by law, the PAGASA is the official time keeper of the Philippines responsible for maintaining and disseminating Philippine Standard Time (PST). It operates a precise standard clock from which the setting of time pieces may be referred to. Under normal conditions, the PAGASA Observatory broadcasts time signals every hour on the hour. For the year, 8,272 time check requests through telephone, mostly in Metro Manila, were accommodated.

In the field of Astronomy, there were 299 astronomical phenomena observed. In celebration of the National Astronomy Week in February, free planetarium lectures and shows were given to 3,400 students and teachers from different schools in the NCR and Marinduque. Portable planetarium lectures and shows were also conducted in 35 schools, attended by students and teachers. A total of 29,421 visitors at the UP Astronomical Observatory for stargazing and telescoping sessions 17,293 students and 1,970 teachers were accommodated for planetarium lectures and shows.

An intensified Information Education Communication (IEC) campaign was undertaken by the Agency during the past six months in line with the Four-Point Action Plan of the NDCC. The program focuses on the enhancement of information dissemination at the community level. To attain its objective, several activities were organized by PAGASA, which include press briefings/conferences, and seminar/workshops for various sectors, lectures and fora in the countryside. Personnel of the Agency participated as resource persons in these activities sponsored by LGUs and NGOs on topics such as hydrometeorological hazards, climate change, El Niño, La Niña, the Agency’s role in Science and Technology and disaster preparedness and mitigation. More or less 25,000 persons in Metro Manila and in the provinces attended the different fora. These IEC activities brought PAGASA closer to the public and likewise raised the people’s level of awareness on disaster prevention and preparedness measures. Information materials were produced to sustain the campaign through the airing of one radio plug and one television infomercial, various publications and posters. Stronger ties with the media are continually being developed to gain support for wider dissemination of information.

Basic observation instruments in fifteen (15) field stations were repaired and calibrated. Apart from this, the Integrated Runway Meteorological Observation System (IRMOS) equipment at the NAIA and at the Puerto Princesa City airport were calibrated. The Infanta synoptic station was fully rehabilitated after having been damaged by flashfloods during the passage of tropical cyclones in the later part of 2004. Wind equipment were calibrated and installed in eight (8) World Weather Watch (WWW) stations. Fifty (50) rain gauges have been acquired and scheduled for installation in selected provinces for use in flashflood and landslide warning. Several stations are now equipped with new computers, under the Philippine Interactive Climate Information Network (PICWIN) project.

To provide safe and convenient access to the Central Office and Weather and Flood Forecasting Center (WFFC), the overlaying of asphalt for roads inside the Science Garden and WFFC compound was undertaken. Several field stations were also rehabilitated through the initiative of the Engineering and Maintenance Division (EMD).

Through various initiatives, additional resources were generated in the total amount of P 322,099,770.00, broken down into: Foreign funding (ACIAR, GOJ-JICA-TCP, ADPC and WMO-VCP) at P 58,984,944.00; Office of the President fund in the amount of P 110,000,000.00; e-Gov fund at P25,900,000.00 and DOST-GIA amounting to P 127,214,826.00. Table 6 lists the projects under different funding sources. With its participation/ attendance in various foreign meetings/conferences/seminars/ workshops/symposia/training, a total of P 3M was granted by the host countries. The Agency was also able to generate resources from its products and services such as customized climate information, weather certifications, astronomical publications, lectures and planetarium shows, solar radiation data/maps and sunshine cards, meteorological instruments calibration and rain-intensity duration frequency analyses, for a total amount of P 890, 624.00.