Cebu Hosts Workshop on Improving Typhoon Impact-Based Forecasting

Over 100 delegates from 14 countries are in Cebu to participate in the four-day 11th Integrated Workshop of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific/World Meteorological Organization Typhoon Committee with the theme on “Improving Typhoon Impact-Based Forecasting and Warning.”

The forum is where participants of three working groups on Meteorology, Hydrology and Disaster Risk Reduction together with the Advisory Working Group discuss the progress of their Annual Operating Plan, cross-cutting issues, strategic plan, budget allocation and governance of the committee.

PAGASA Administrator Dr. Vicente Malano, in his opening address, said the activity is important considering the severity of climate change and in a country that is visited by an average of 20 typhoons a year.

Malano said just this month alone, the country expects three typhoons but as of today, four typhoons have entered the country, the strongest of which is “Lawin” that has destroyed PAGASA’s radar station in Batanes.

“This activity is very timely and significant,” said Malano as the challenge is geared towards impact-based information and to let the people understand on what will happen based on the warning signals given by their radar stations, automatic rain gauges or other forecasting tools.

Malano said the Philippines along with the United States, Korea and Japan are adopting the impact-based forecasting which includes the use of high-resolution maps for easier understanding by information users.

“People need to understand what will occur when there are heavy rains that result to flooding and how high the water level could become,” said Malano.

The PAGASA administrator cited the 18 major river basins in the country where five have been placed with monitoring gadgets to determine how high the water could flow during heavy rains. The government intends to add two more flood monitoring systems, added Malano.

Malano said of the 18 major river basins, eight are in Mindanao, seven in Luzon and three in the Visayas. A river basin is classified as having at least an area of 2,400 square kilometers.

In Cebu, there are only small river basins as automatic rain gauges (ARG) is enough to gather and record the flooding level in case of intense rains, said Malano. There are more than 10 ARG in the province.

Malano further said the radar station in Mactan has the capability to monitor weather system that affects within 480 kilometer radius that includes some parts of Minadano and Bicol in Luzon.

“The desired outcome of the workshop is to be able to come up with policies on how to further develop impact-based warning system,” said Malano. (rmn/fcr/PIA7)