Saturday, April 27, 2013

DOST seals commitment to Oriental Mindoro Hydromet Project via MOA signing

By Angelica A. de Leon
S&T Media Service, DOST-STII
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), thru DOST-MIMAROPA Regional Director Dr. Josefina P. Abilay and Assistant Secretary Raymund E. Liboro, concurrent director of the DOST’s Science and Technology Information Institute (STII), 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 said 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, said 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.


PHOTO CAPTION: DOST, Oriental Mindoro ink MOA for Hydromet Project. The ceremonial Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing between the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the local government units of Calapan City, Baco, Naujan, Victoria and Bansud in Oriental Mindoro for the Hydromet Project officially starts the development of weather tracking devices to monitor the Calapan River Basin during heavy rains and floods.  The Hydromet Project is a key component of Project NOAH, a flagship program of DOST which seeks to provide science-based and technology-driven disaster management and prevention solutions. Shown in photo during the signing are (from left): DOST Assistant Secretary and Science and Technology Information Institute Director Raymund Liboro, Naujan Mayor Hon. Ma. Angeles Casubuan, Municipal Planning and Development Coordinator for Victoria Caroline Manuel, Municipal Engineer of Baco Engr. Evan Aceveda, and DOST-MIMAROPA Regional Director Dr. Josefina  Abilay. Oriental Mindoro, one of the provinces in the MIMAROPA region, committed to install 16 weather tracking devices.
(Photo by Gerry Palad; Caption by Angelica A. de Leon)