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Tweet 0MAKATI LAUNCHES 3RD LOCALIZED WEATHER MONITORING STATION
posted by : icrd on 06/15/2012Makati City today launched the 3rd weather monitoring station at San Lorenzo Barangay Hall, in partnership with the Manila Observatory located at Ateneo de Manila, in order to provide localized weather forecast.
Mayor Jejomar Erwin S. Binay said that the localized weather forecast can provide numerous information and indicators that would assist city officials in making significant decisions that affect the lives and properties of the people in Makati.
The mayor said that the “ weather station can give localized rain forecast for the day and for the next 24 to 48 hours” that reflects the local weather conditions in Makati, while the PAG-ASA forecast is for the whole of Metro Manila. While other areas in Manila may be experiencing heavy rains and floods that may prompt suspension of classes, Makati may only register light showers, enabling the local officials to decide whether to suspend classes or not, he added.
Mayor Binay also said that the monitoring stations serve as emergency management tools that would alert the city officials and the private sector on possible flooding, and allow them to take appropriate measures that would mitigate the risks to lives and property. Makati is taking a lead in public service, and has “taken another step in harnessing technology to ensure the welfare and safety of our constituents,” he concluded.
The Vantage Pro 2 Plus model installed at San Lorenzo, and the first two sites, is equipped with an Integrated Sensor Suite that has a rain collector, temperature sensor, anemometer that measures wind speed and direction, and UV sensor. Also included in the Weather Station is the Console with screen that displays important weather indicators such as precipitation, barometric pressure, temperature, UV index, wind speed, wind direction and humidity.
Additional stations will be installed at Barangay San Antonio, Forbes Park and West Rembo, and the Ospital ng Makati within the year, Mayor Binay said. They were selected according to elevation, occurrence of flood, one kilometer range from other stations, and other parameters. As an early warning system, the weather stations are highly effective emergency management tools.
The first weather monitoring station in Makati was installed at the New Makati City Hall Building in March last year, while the second, at Barangay Poblacion in July 2011.
The information gathered by the weather monitoring stations is available to the public at the weatherlink.com website. The link of this website will be displayed at the Makati City Portal website – www.makati.gov.ph. Categorized data will also be posted at the Makati Portal website in the near future.