CEBU CITY, Cebu Oct. 24 (PIA) –- Two local government units (LGUs) here can now officially manage and operate their own Flood Early Warning System (FEWS) after the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)-PAGASA, in collaboration with the Government of South Korea through the Ministry of Strategy and Finance (MOSF-Korea) and the National Disaster Management Research Institute (NDMI), officially turned over to them the their own FEWS.
The municipality of Dumanjug and the City of Toledo became the first LGU recipients of the FEWS project in Cebu.
The project aims to deliver as much advance notice as possible of an impending flood to the authorities and the general public and to strengthen the capabilities of its recipient agency in terms of local disaster response and preparedness.
The project is also an addition to DOST-PAGASA's existing FEWS in its continuing effort to minimize flood disasters in the country by offering a flexible, robust, and cost-effective local early warning system.
With the operation of the FEWS, the said LGUs are expected to boost their local risk reduction capabilities, especially in avoiding severe damage and losses related to flood risks.
"This Flood Early Warning System in Toledo and Dumanjug is very important for the communities because it gives them additional technology-based decision support that will alert their localities of heavy rainfall and flooding incidents," said Chief Visayas-PAGASA Regional Services Division Alfredo Quiblat Jr. during the turnover ceremony held at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Cebu City on Oct. 24.
"For the Early Warning System to be effective and to succeed, there are three factors to be considered that should work together: technology, communication systems, and our disaster managers," he added.
On Sept. 13, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed in Cebu establishing a partnership between DOST-PAGASA and Toledo City and the Municipality of Dumanjug as the organization's initial recipients.
The turnover ceremony was also attended by DOST-PAGASA Administrator Dr. Vicente Malano, DOST7 Regional Director Engr. Jesus Zamora Jr., and Dumanjug Mayor Efren Guntrano Gica. (RGC/PIA7 Cebu)
