THE PHILIPPINES, JULY 4, 2012: In time for the rainy season, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) introduces Project Noah, which aims to aid and inform Filipinos during typhoons.
Named after the biblical ship that saved lives from a massive flooding, Project Noah (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) is headed University of the Philippines professor Alfredo Lagmay.
“This project enables us to have nearly real-time monitoring of the weather. All you have to do is visit the Pagasa website and use the tools we provide,” said University of the Philippines professor Alfredo Mahar Lagmay said in an interview with Radyo Inquirer Wednesday.
According to Lagmay, the two-month-old project uses tools and censors that monitor clouds and gauge the amount of rainfall in a particular area.
Though still in the early stage, he said the project would help Filipinos have a better understanding and awareness of weather conditions.
Lagmay enumerates some instances when it will be very helpful to the public even when there’s normal weather condition. “A farmer before drying un-milled rice under the sun, a fisherman before sailing for his daily catch, a family about to go on vacation, they will know immediately if it’s going to rain or not.”
“Nagagamit natin yan para mas maganda ang decision natin (We’re able to use that to have a sound decision),” he said.
According to Lagmay, the main reason of the project is to alleviate the effects of natural hazardous events such as Typhoon Ondoy which lambasted Metro Manila two years ago.
Lagmay said Project Noah, however, will complete its coverage of the whole Philippines by the end of 2013. Project Noah can be viewed over at http://noah.dost.gov.ph/.
Source: Inquirer.net
