SOURCE: Evelyn Macairan
With the onset of the La Niña that would not only bring about excessive rains but also landslides, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) yesterday said it is set to install 10 sensors in five landslide prone areas.
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With the onset of the La Niña that would not only bring about excessive rains but also landslides, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) yesterday said it is set to install 10 sensors in five landslide prone areas.
Pagasa officer-in-charge Graciano Yumul Jr. said that with the anticipation of more than 22 tropical cyclones to hit the country this year and a “wet” summer as a result of the La Niña phenomena, they would be intensifying their monitoring capability against landslides.
Yumul said the Department of Science and Technology commissioned the University of the Philippines some two years ago to create landslide sensors that would serve as an early warning device that would alert residents of an impending calamity.
The DOST spent around P7 million to P8 million to develop the local technology.
“So far, we only have 10 landslide sensors which would be used in our field tests. If they are effective, then we would roll it out to the whole country. We have three months before June or before the rainy season sets in to have them installed,” Yumul said.
They have selected five pilot test areas. For each area, they would be installing two sensors that would be buried underground.
Yumul and Science Secretary Mario Montejo yesterday went to St. Bernard town in Southern Leyte to install two landslide-monitoring devices.
They are also planning on placing two sensors each in Baguio, Antipolo City and Legazpi, Albay.
He explained that a huge volume of rain could bring about a movement of the earth, and the sensors would pick it up. Pagasa would then be alerted and can inform local governments in the concerned area.
However, he explained that while they are trying out the technology of landslide sensors, the people should not be complacent.
The Pagasa official reminded that in case of a landslide, evacuating and relocating the affected people would still be the best recourse.
He is hoping that the Philippines would not suffer the same fate as Brazil where the death toll has reached over 500 as a result of mudslides near Rio de Janeiro.
Early this month, at least five children were killed after landslides caused by heavy floods hit Barangay Balod-Balod in the town of St. Bernard.
On Feb. 17, 2006, around 1,000 people perished also as a result of a massive landslide in the same municipality.
Yumul said the Department of Science and Technology commissioned the University of the Philippines some two years ago to create landslide sensors that would serve as an early warning device that would alert residents of an impending calamity.
The DOST spent around P7 million to P8 million to develop the local technology.
“So far, we only have 10 landslide sensors which would be used in our field tests. If they are effective, then we would roll it out to the whole country. We have three months before June or before the rainy season sets in to have them installed,” Yumul said.
They have selected five pilot test areas. For each area, they would be installing two sensors that would be buried underground.
Yumul and Science Secretary Mario Montejo yesterday went to St. Bernard town in Southern Leyte to install two landslide-monitoring devices.
They are also planning on placing two sensors each in Baguio, Antipolo City and Legazpi, Albay.
He explained that a huge volume of rain could bring about a movement of the earth, and the sensors would pick it up. Pagasa would then be alerted and can inform local governments in the concerned area.
However, he explained that while they are trying out the technology of landslide sensors, the people should not be complacent.
The Pagasa official reminded that in case of a landslide, evacuating and relocating the affected people would still be the best recourse.
He is hoping that the Philippines would not suffer the same fate as Brazil where the death toll has reached over 500 as a result of mudslides near Rio de Janeiro.
Early this month, at least five children were killed after landslides caused by heavy floods hit Barangay Balod-Balod in the town of St. Bernard.
On Feb. 17, 2006, around 1,000 people perished also as a result of a massive landslide in the same municipality.
