ILOILO City – The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) has chosen the province of Iloilo as one of the recipients of its high-frequency radar program for 2020.
High-frequency radar provides real-time sea surface data that enhance the capacity of Pagasa and other government agencies concerned in shipping forecasts and gale warnings for maritime transport.
The high radar stations will be situated in Sitio Bawang, Barangay Alipata, Sicogon Island in Carles town and in Barangay Igbon, Concepcion.
Iloilo Provincial Board member Rolando Distura, chairman of the Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management and also the proponent of the project, said the radar can provide accurate and reliable data as to ocean currents, speed and direction as well as wind and wave height on a daily basis.
“We must no rely on merely looking at the sky and observing sea-state. Decision making and policy direction should be based on sound and scientific and technological data,” Distura emphasized.
He underscored the importance of the radar in preventing sea-related mishaps and other maritime disasters, also in making critical decisions during search and rescue operations.
“Remember the Iloilo Strait tragedy August last year and all of us are all somehow concentrated here but don’t you know there are more than 300 tourists who were stranded in Carles and Sicogon area? This prompted me to request for the installation of such instrument,” said Distura.
The local government units of Carles and Concepcion have declared their full support on the program.
Distura is optimistic that the project will push through amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
An onsite and actual survey of the location will be conducted by the contractor and the Pagasa surveyor on Oct. 9 to 20 and the physical establishment of the project will push through soon.
The contractor had already asked for the authority to travel from Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr. for the on-site survey. They underwent swab test for reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction test as required prior to the conduct of the onsite survey.
“If their test results come out negative, they will now survey the area in Concepcion and Carles,” said Distura.
The board member believes that this program will pave way for a more disaster-resilient Iloilo province.
He added that putting up coastal radar is for safer and sound, efficient and proactive decision-making of the authorities./PN