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| ==[[Sorsogon News]]== | | ==[[Sorsogon News]]== |
| '''Aquino inaugurates state-of-the-art Doppler radar station in Virac''' | | '''Natural resources office awards 100-ha land for mangrove development''' |
| *Source: http://businessmirror.com.ph/home/nation/26625-aquino-inaugurates-state-of-the-art-doppler-radar-station-in-virac | | *Source: http://pia.gov.ph/news/index.php?menu=2&webregion=R05&article=801335834792 |
| *Wednesday, May 2, 2012 | | *Thursday, May 3, 2012 |
| :by MIA M. GONZALEZ / REPORTER | | :by Benilda A. Recebido |
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| BATO, Catanduanes—President Aquino on Wednesday inaugurated a state-of-the-art Doppler radar station of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) in this typhoon-prone province, which will help improve government response to potential disasters.
| | SORSOGON CITY, May 3 (PIA) -- One hundred hectares of tidal mudflat was awarded by the Community Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) here to the Seaweed Grower and Aquaculture Association of Sorsogon, Inc. (SEAGRASS) in Brgy. Gimaloto, Sorsogon City. |
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| The Virac Doppler Radar is under the P174-billion project for the improvement of the meteorological radar system in the Philippines funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica), with two more to be set up in Aparri, Cagayan, in October and in Guiuan, Eastern Samar, next year. | | The SEAGRASS, a people’s organization composed of fisher folks and farmers in Brgy Gimaloto, West District, in this city, was chosen by the CENRO in coordination with the Sorsogon City Agriculture Office as beneficiary in line with the National Greening Program being implemented by the national government. |
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| The project seeks to effectively mitigate the devastation caused by tropical cyclones and other severe weather phenomena, and enhance the capability of Pagasa in monitoring tropical cyclones monitoring, especially those coming from the Pacific Ocean to protecting lives and property.
| | According to SEAGRASS president Redentor Lasay, the 100 ha. mudflat is currently dominated by mangrove species like bakawan, pagatpat, miyapi, lapis-lapis, and nipa, among others. |
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| “This will give us more information and will help us predict more accurately the direction, the impact and the intensity of weather disturbances approaching our country. This means that we’ll be better prepared—that fewer Filipinos will be victimized by the vagaries of weather,” the President said in his speech.
| | “As per the initial agreement, the SEAGRASS will serve as the steward of the site for mangrove development for 25 years starting on signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA). Inclusive of the agreement is for the SEAGRASS to protect and develop, as well as, benefit from the said area. Members will be allowed to harvest pruned branches of mangroves and nipa shingles as well as aquasilvi culture yields, under the supervision of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) and Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR),” Lasay explained. |
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| Mr. Aquino said that with the new system in place, the public can be assured that the government “is readier than ever to respond to these threats, and to help our people recover from potential damages.”
| | CENR Officer Krisanta Marlene P. Rodriguez said the MOA is underway and will immediately be signed upon compliance of the prescribed requirements by the concerned parties. |
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| Science Secretary Mario Montejo said the new facility “is the most vital and strategic Doppler radar installation facility” as it faces the Pacific Ocean. “We made a rough estimate—95 percent of all typhoons coming from the Pacific Ocean can be seen here. This can cover the whole Bicol region, including Masbate and parts of Samar,” Montejo said.
| | She also added that this week, BFAR, in coordination with CENRO will conduct assessment and survey of the said mangrove project to determine the type of mangrove species suitable to the 50 ha. out of the awarded 100 ha. mudflat. |
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| He noted that the Doppler radar station in Virac has a 95-percent accuracy, based on tests that his department conducted.
| | Propagules to be planted in the site will be bought directly from the SEAGRASS members, and the growing of mangroves will be monitored and taken good care of by the members for the span of six months as per the agreement. |
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| “This will really give advance information for Bicol region and also give advance information for Metro Manila,” he said.
| | City Agriculturist Adeline Detera said the City Agriculture Office is set to establish a one-hectare Mangro-vetum, a mangrove propagule nursery in Barangay Gimaloto for sustainability of the mangrove project and to showcase at the same time a rare package of mangrove species both for tourism and educational enhancement. |
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| Montejo said on Tuesday afternoon, the Virac Doppler Radar indicated rainfall in Guiuan to measure 37 millimeters in three hours, which was the exact same measurement shown by the rain gauge in that town, and that two other tests conducted in Legazpi City and Sorsogon showed the same level of accuracy.
| | Meanwhile, SEAGRASS is currently a beneficiary of aquasilvi culture project grant of BFAR which includes seaweed farming and green mussel (tahong) production which is soon to harvest anytime in May this year; the project amounted to P150,000. |
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| The Philippines has seven other Doppler radars that were funded by the national government.
| | Aside from this, BFAR has also established “hilay," a fish-breeding and shelter area which, at the same time, serve as protection against trawl and dynamite fishing and any other form of illegal fishing activities. |
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| He said that with the type of sophisticated Doppler radar in use, the government can see, in real time, the rainfall in the covered area, and would help the Department of Science and Technology fulfill the President’s directive of giving flood forecasts at least six hours in advance, especially in places along major river systems all over the country.
| | SEAGRASS was also granted by BFAR with 6.5 horse power motorized banca and a nipa hut for the convenience and smooth management of the members of the organization. (BAR-PIA 5, Sorsogon) |
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| “It will help eliminate the element of surprise because we would know for sure where the rainfall is,” Montejo said.
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| The President thanked the Japanese government and Jica for supporting the country’s disaster-mitigation efforts, and committed that the Philippines “will always be ready to do what it can to return your kindness.”
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| Motohiko Kato, deputy chief of mission and consul general of the Japanese Embassy, said that Japan, like the Philippines, has suffered from natural disasters “so as an important neighbor to each other, we decided to construct this facility so the Filipino people can prevent the occurrence of such disasters to this country.”
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| An improved meteorological radar system in the Philippines would enable Pagasa to conduct round-the-clock monitoring of severe weather phenomena and associated hazards such as intense rainfall, destructive winds, and transmit these information on real-time, and processed/ analyzed more efficiently, the project briefer said.
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| It would also allow Pagasa to detect localized severe systems such as thunderstorms and tornadoes affecting the Bicol region, and heavy rainfall event vital for flood and landslide monitoring and warning system.
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| The President also switched on the Solong and Hitoma 1 mini-hydropower plants, which will augment power supply in Catanduanes.
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| The mini-hydroplants are the first to be developed by Sunwest Water and Electricity Inc. (Suweco) in the small island grids covered by the Special Power Utilities Group (Spug) of the National Power Corporation.
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| Suweco president Elizaldy Co said his company spent P540 million to construct the plants, and that it will invest another P500 for expansion plans, “to complete the needs of Catanduanes of another three megaWatts.
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| In Photo: President Aquino converses with Catanduanes Gov. Joseph Cua and Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento of the lone district of the province after he inaugurated the Solong and Hitoma 1 Hydroelectric Power Plants and the Pagasa new radar tower station in Barangay Buenavista, Bato, Catanduanes. The Solong and Hitoma mini-hydro plants are the first-ever to be developed by a private entity—Sunwest Water and Electricity Inc.—in the small island grids covered by the Special Power Utilities Group of the National Power Corp. Pagasa’s new Doppler radar station is expected to mitigate impacts of devastating typhoons in the country. (Jay Morales Malacañang Photo Bureau)
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| ==Photo Gallery of Sorsogon, Philippines== | | ==Photo Gallery of Sorsogon, Philippines== |