VIGAN CITY (PIA) – The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), through its Provincial Science and Technology Center (PSTC) in Ilocos Sur, led the installation of an Automated Weather Station (AWS) on September 9 in Cervantes town.
 
This is the third AWS installed in the province – first was in Sugpon town in 2017 and the second was in Salcedo town in July this year.
 
“The installation of the AWS is part of the Disaster Risk Reduction and Management/Climate Change Adaptation (DRRM/CCA) of the DOST’s Community Empowerment through Science and Technology (S&T) Program currently implemented in the area,” said Engr. Jordan Abad, provincial director of PSTC Ilocos Sur.
 
This aims to capacitate the communities through generation of timely weather data for preparedness and resiliency during occurrence of natural hazards, he added.
 
As this also aims to strengthen disaster preparedness and enhance knowledge of DRRM personnel, the DOST capacitated eight DRRM personnel of the local government unit (LGU) and trained them on the operation and maintenance of the weather station.
 
The DOST said this will help the community in monitoring the weather conditions, provide crop advisories, create predictions, and formulate plans for a more resilient community.
 
Cervantes Mayor Pablito Maggay II expressed his gratitude for the unending support their municipality receives from the DOST.
 
“Itong equipment na ito ay malaking tulong sa amin mas lalo na sa lugar namin na napapalibutan ng kabundukan. It will help us in preparing for disasters in the near future,” Maggay said.
 
He likewise committed the local government unit’s continuous support to the DOST and the associations and organizations in the municipality.
 
Aside from the provision of AWS, the DOST also awarded two units of solar portable drying trays to the Cervantes Coffee Farmers Association. (JCR/AMB/JMCQ, PIA Ilocos Sur)