Smart supports 2nd Rain Watchers Awards

MANILA, Philippines - All public and private primary and secondary schools participating in Project Rain Gauge of Smart Communications, Inc. (Smart) can now join the Second Rain Watchers Awards.

The annual search for the best rainfall monitoring teams was formally opened with the signing of a memorandum of agreement between the Typhoon Committee Foundation, Inc. (TCFI), Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), Department of Education, Alyansa ng mga Grupong Haligi ng Agham at Teknolohiya para sa Mamamayan (AGHAM) and Smart.

The agreement defined each agency or firm’s role in the conduct of the competition, which was started last year to encourage participation in Smart’s Project Rain Gauge.

Under Project Rain Gauge, schools are trained to regularly monitor and record rainfall data, which they send to a website (www.projectraingauge.ph) hosted and maintained by Smart. 

Though initially a science education project, Project Rain Gauge is envisioned to eventually create a network of supplementary ground stations across the country to provide additional data on local rainfall measurement in specific areas for a more effective and accurate local weather monitoring. Its importance is underscored by the fact that the Philippines has a complex weather system and that there are only 58 ground stations for weather monitoring in the entire country.

The best entry per region will vie for the top three spots, which will be announced during the awarding ceremony scheduled in November this year.

Regional winners will receive a medal for the team and a laptop for the school. The top three winners will receive cash prizes of as much as P25,000, wireless connectivity devices like mobile phones and Smart Bro prepaid plug-it units and the honor of being the best and the most creative and consistent in terms of collecting and reporting rainfall data. Their schools will receive a desktop computer and a Smart Bro prepaid plug-it unit.

Schools interested to join the competition can download the necessary forms from the project website, which also contains the mechanics and other details of the competition. They have until April 30 to register for Project Rain Gauge and to join the contest.