Pagasa launches first ever meteorological buoy

BANTAYAN ISLAND, Philippines – The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has deployed here a meteorological buoy, the first of its kind in the country, to enhance the Philippines’ maritime safety and prevent sea tragedies caused by inclement weather.

Pagasa deputy administrator Nathaniel Servando said the marine buoys would enable Pagasa “to achieve its mission of providing security to the general public, especially residents near coastal areas and the maritime sector, through safe, reliable and secured marine observation networks.”

Servando said the equipment is capable of measuring barometric pressure, wind speed and direction, air and sea surface temperature, as well as wave height.

He said the buoy, which was imported from Australia, costs around P30 million.

The new weather instrument was launched from a motorboat with officials of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Pagasa and Madridejos Mayor Salvador de la Fuente aboard.

The yellow buoy was floated six kilometers in the waters of Madridejos town in Bantayan Island.

Yellow buoys indicate special markings such as traffic separations, international boundaries, anchorage areas, dredging, fishnet area, etc., said Dr. Cynthia Celebre, project manager of the Pagasa weather marine buoy project.

Servando said aside from Bantayan, Pagasa has also recently installed a marine buoy in Burias Island in Masbate.

Servando said Bantayan and Burias are two of the country’s busiest navigational routes.

Pagasa aims to install 10 meteorological buoys around the country.

DOST Assistant Secretary Robert Dizon, however, said that they are studying the possibility of developing low-cost marine buoys.

Servando also said Pagasa would closely coordinate with the Philippine Coast Guard and the local government units for the maintenance and security of the weather buoys.

“The safety of the marine buoy will ensure your safety at sea,” De la Fuente told a group of local fishermen.

Dizon said the installation of the marine buoys was part of the P100-million calamity fund approved by the previous administration in 2008 to support its Nautical Highway Program.