ILOILO – Realistic climatological data and accurate weather monitoring and forecasting could guide farmers manage crops efficiently, thereby increasing production, stressed Gov. Arthur Defensor Jr.
The provincial government has thus proposed an agro-meteorological station (agro-met) with the municipality of Santa Barbara as possible site.
Currently, there is one agro-met station in the province. It is located in Dumangas town.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) recently passed a resolution requesting the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) to put up an agro-met within the complex of the motorpool owned by the provincial government in Barangay Inangayan, Santa Barbara.
According to SP member Rolando Distura, chairperson of the Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, the agro-met station would also be an integral part of the disaster risk reduction and management command center that the province proposes to put up in Santa Barbara.
“It will have an enhanced information gathering within the 50-kilometer radius. And it will be part of the decision-making and policy directions at the command center,” Distura said.
He proposed other weather stations in Passi City, Concepcion, Janiuay, Guimbal, Barotac Viejo, and Concepcion.
PAGASA committed to establish the Santa Barbara weather station next year.
Maria Fe Villamora, PAGASA senior weather specialist, said they target to build the weather station in the early 2020.
PAGASA will also donate P2.5 million worth of equipment to make the station functional. These include rain gauge, wind vane, sunshine recorder, and evaporation pan, coastal radar, among others.
They will send personnel to provide technical support and help man the station. (With a report from LHC, Capitol News/PN)
