Pagasa to acquire 5 more Doppler radars

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is acquiring five more Doppler radars next year to further upgrade its weather forecasting network.

Based on budget documents submitted to the House of Representatives appropriations committee, the five additional radars would be installed in Zamboanga del Norte, Palawan (Busuanga town), Bohol, Camarines Norte and Pangasinan.

This would bring to 18 units PAGASA’s radar infrastructure.

Thirteen radar systems have been installed or are being installed in Aparri in Cagayan, Guiuan in Eastern Samar, Baler in Quezon, Baguio City, Subic, Tagaytay, Cebu, Virac in Catanduanes, Basco in Batanes, Quezon in Palawan, Iloilo, Tampakan in South Cotabato, and Hinatuan in Agusan del Sur.

Weather agency officials said the Doppler radars are capable of measuring rainfall.

The agency will have a budget of P1.237 billion next year, down by P2.3 billion from this year’s P3.5 billion.

The big reduction will be in its capital outlay or infrastructure funding, from P2.5 billion this year to P343.7 million in 2016.

Reached for comment, Davao City Rep. Isidro Ungab said, “I do not have the documents they have submitted to us, but offhand, the huge reduction would be due to non-recurring expenses, like those they have spent for Doppler radars this year.”

“We have been supporting PAGASA with the funding it needs so it can better forecast and warn the public about weather conditions, including rainfall and possible flooding. If people have noticed, the agency is now able to do that,” he said.