DA installs automatic weather stations in Central Visayas

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture has installed six units' automatic weather stations this year in Central Visayas as part of its program on the Establishment of Agro-Meteorological Stations in Highly Vulnerable Agricultural Areas: A Tool for Climate Change Adaptation and in the Development of Local Early Warning System.

Engineer Antonio Du, chief of the Central Visayas Integrated Agricultural Research Center (CENVIARC) in an interview with The Freeman said the five units were installed in Caipilan, Siquijor; San Jose and Bais City, Negros Oriental; Ubay and Carmen towns in Bohol; and in Barili, Cebu.

This weather device costs P470 thousand each, excluding technical trainings and operating expenses of observers. About P50,000 will be spent for the construction of perimeter fence in each site, said Du.

These agro-met stations will provide data every 15 minutes on rain value, rain intensity, air temperature, dew point, wind speed and direction, relative humidity, solar radiation, soil moisture and soil temperature, he said.

"Our data collected from these devices will be of great help in coming up with doable plans and proper measures to address the adverse effect of climate change," said Du. "It is our response to the growing demands of timely and more reliable weather data that are useful in reducing the vulnerability of the agriculture sector that the local government units and farmers always yearning to our attention."

Du said he will be coordinating with other government agencies and private sectors to complement and account all installed automatic weather stations and automatic rainwater gauges in Central Visayas.

The DA's Bureau of Soils and Water Management and the National Agricultural and Fishery Council, with the help of the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services (DOST-PAGASA) through the USDA PL480, has implemented this project, he added.   (FREEMAN)