DOST, local planters federation partner for NOAH

By Analiza S. Macatangay

NAGA CITY, March 4 (PIA) -- The Department of Science and Technology in Bicol Region (DOST-5) and the Libmanan Pulantuna Planters Federation, Inc. (LPPFI) recently inked a memorandum of agreement (MOA) in support of the implementation of the project, “Development of Hybrid Weather Monitoring System and Production of Weather and Rain Automated Stations.”

The project is the main component of the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards, popularly called Project NOAH.

The partnership is in line with government’s campaign for a “zero” casualty during times of calamity and occurrences of disaster, said Agustin III Z. Villadares, LPPFI president and chief executive officer.

The agreement will bind DOST and LPPFI to a commitment of supporting the establishment and operation of the weather instrument and equipment critical in establishing accurate data on real-time weather situation prevailing in the locality. The accuracy of these readings will mean saving more lives and less damage to the community’s property.

“A prepared and knowledge-equipped community will always rise up after every calamity. Our primordial concern is the safety of our loved ones and the community and lesser, if no damage at all to our properties and sources of livelihood – we can beat disaster with preparedness,” Villadares said in an interview.

Stipulated in the MOA is DOST’s prime obligation of implementing the project, in coordination with the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) and to facilitate and coordinate the identification of appropriate site for the automated rain gauges (ARG) and Automated Water Level Monitoring Stations (AWLMS), including its installation in agreed sites in Camarines Sur.

The LPPFI on the other hand, will facilitate the conduct of Information Educational Campaign (EIC) in the province on Project NOAH and help in the interpretation of data generated by the weather monitoring stations during the conduct of community-based trainings and meetings within their coverage area.

Villadares also assured its partner that they will enhance the stakeholders’ capacity by instituting related trainings among their members. In fact, he said, the Computer Literacy Project is already in place.

“This literacy project in computer which operates TESDA-accredited training facility known as Agricultural Extension Computer Education Laboratory or A-ExCEL is a basic computer education designed to teach farm families on the use of computer. In this current world, we need to update them with the latest innovation so that they too, will be competitive in the market place,” Villadares added.

The partnership is expected to lessen if not totally eliminate the devastating impact of any calamity in the future. (LSM-PIA 5, Camarines Sur)