Rain gauges for flood-prone C. Mindanao villages urged

KORONADAL CITY - Government environmental experts sought the installation of improvised rain gauges in flood-prone villages in Central Mindanao to forewarn residents about heavy rainfall.

Of the region’s 1,194 barangays, 256 were found to be prone to flooding.

Constancio Paye, regional director of the Mines and Geosciences Bureau (MGB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), said the prototype low-cost rain gauges made of galvanized iron sheet will play an important role in the government’s efforts to save infrastructure and spare human lives during flash floods and other calamities.

Last month, flash floods spawned by typhoon “Frank” swept through various parts of Central Mindanao, leaving more than P2 billion in damage to government infrastructure and agricultural losses.

Paye said the MGB is willing to provide the various barangay disaster coordinating councils with the design of the improvised rain gauge.

“It’s easy to operate because of its simplicity. Even a person who finished Grade 5 can operate it,” he told The STAR in a telephone interview.

Paye said they are also willing to give lectures and technical training to villagers on how to interpret rainfall data generated by the improvised rain gauges.

The Saguittarius Mines Inc., which is exploring copper and gold deposits in South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Davao del Sur, also offered to provide rainfall data from its own weather station to the local disaster coordinating councils.

Jim Sampulna, DENR-Central Mindanao director, said the rainfall data provided by private companies with their own weather stations could really help in the government’s early warning system against flash floods during the rainy season.