Baguio signs agreements with DOST-CAR, Pagasa on early warning system
The city government, represented by Mayor Benjamin Magalong, entered into separate memorandum of agreements (MOAs) with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-Cordillera Administrative Region and DOST Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Sept. 21, at City Hall.
The MOAs are on the ASEAN-Australian Smart City Trust Fund (AASCTF) grant project on Flood Early Warning, Information and Mitigation System (FEWS) where the Summer Capital is a recipient through the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office.
The project has three outputs including a smart FEWS established and operational; real-time data capture system established in four river basins in the city; and flood mitigation action plan prepared.
As a project component, the city received five FEWS equipment, specifically one lot Tandem Station and four lots Water Level Monitoring Stations (WLMS) for installation in the following sites: Brookspoint barangay; Guisad Central barangay; Balili barangay, La Trinidad, Benguet; Bakakeng Sur barangay; and Woodsgate, Camp 7 barangay.
Under the agreements, the city’s roles and responsibilities include owning, operating and managing the FEWS once it is turned over by the Asian Development Bank (ADB); initially connect the FEWS to the management information and technology division and eventually to the Smart City Command Center; collecting, managing and owning the data collected from the installed early warning equipment; and more.
The DOST-CAR is mandated to provide central direction, leadership and coordination of scientific and technological efforts to ensure that results therefrom are geared and utilized in areas of maximum economic and social benefits for people in the region.
Meanwhile, the DOST PAGASA is mandated to provide adequate, up-to-date, and timely information on atmospheric, astronomical and other weather-related phenomena using the advances achieved in the realm of science to help government and the people prepare for calamities caused by typhoons, floods, landslides, storm surges, extreme climatic events, and climate change, among others, to afford greater protection to the people; and more.
The project is supported by the AASCTF which is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and managed by the ADB.
Witnessing the signing are officials from the ADB, AASCTF, DOST-CAR, DOST PAGASA, councilor Betty Lourdes Tabanda, City Mayor’s office chief of staff Engr. Felipe Puzon, and CDRRMO head Antonette Anaban. – Gaby B. Keith
