DOST, Smart to improve weather monitoring

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has partnered with Smart Communications and Sun Cellular to improve the country’s weather monitoring and flood warning systems.

DOST Secretary Mario Montejo signed yesterday a memorandum of understanding with Smart president and chief executive officer Napoleon Nazareno and Sun Cellular president and CEO Orlando Vea to host 600 automated rain gauges in strategically located cell sites in 18 major river systems all over the country. 

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) will also install automated water level sensors in these river systems.

Both the rain gauges and river sensors will use the wireless networks of Smart and Sun to transmit their readings at least four times every hour to the central data base of PAGASA.