DOST-PAGASA turns over flood early warning system to 2 LGUs in Cebu

CEBU CITY-- The Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-PAGASA turned over Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) to Toledo City and Dumanjug, Cebu on October 24 to enable the recipient-communities to respond to warning messages appropriately ans in a timely manner and to avoid flood-related damage and losses.

DOST-7 regional director Engr. Jesus Zamora, Jr said, DOST7 is one with PAGASA in bringing new technologies and innovations to Central Visayas for disaster management and risk reduction and there is a need to prepare for more extreme weather conditions in the region.

Zamora bared that DOST-PAGASA with the Government of South Korea through the National Disaster Management and Research Institute (NDMI), implemented the USD$1-Million project called “Strengthening the Capability of the Republic of the Philippines on Disaster Risk Reduction” that is funded under South Korea’s Global Projects on Disaster Risk Reduction (GPDRR).

This is the first-ever project in the Province of Cebu with implementation dates from June to November this year.  The project aims to provide as much prior warning as possible of an impending flood to the authorities and the general public and to improve the disaster risk reduction capabilities of Toledo City and Dumanjug town.

Zamora thanked the South Korean government for its active support for the welfare and economic growth of developing nations through undertakings such as these.

 The ceremonial turnover held at Radisson Blu, Cebu City was attended by Dr. Vicente Malano, Administrator of DOST-PAGASA and Alfredo Quiblat Jr., Chief of Visayas PAGASA; Dr. Kim Jin Young, Senior Research Officer at the National Disaster Management & Research Institute (NDMI) of South Korea and Jeon Jeibok, Director of Water Resources & Environment Department of Dongbu Engineering in South Korea.

Also present during the event were Mayor Marjorie Perales of Toledo City, Mayor Efren Guntrano Gica of Dumanjug, Marlou Salazar, Regional Director of Office of the Civil Defense (OCD-7) and Engr. Socrates Paat Jr., Project Leader of Hydrometeorology Division of PAGASA. (Photos: DOST-7/Tristan Abando)