..BALANGA CITY, Bataan- The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has set up an automatic weather station (AWS) here that will provide quicker flood and disaster forecasts for the province.
PAGASA recently informed provincial and municipal disaster risk reduction and management councils that the AWS is an early warning system that record weather parameters in the area including rainfall, wind speed, wind pressure, humidity and temperature.
Another AWS was installed last May in Bataan National High School in Balanga and another in Mariveles.
PAGASA weather facilities technician Veronica Chin said the P700,000 system will provide early storm warnings to barangays within a five to 10 kilometer-radius.
"For example, when the rainfall reading is high, the people can be advised that the water has reached a critical level and that they should be vigilant," said Chin.
Dennis Mariano, head of the Balanga City Public Safety Office, more lives will be saved using the data from the weather system because they will now have a concrete basis to present to the people during the stormy season.
"It is very hard to evacuate people if we don't have basis. With this data, we can show this to the people and give them an early warning," said Mariano.
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