Pagasa, USC students fix Mactan Doppler radar

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu and Central Visayas would soon have a more detailed and accurate weather forecast, after a Doppler radar that had been non-operational since middle of this year was already fixed.

Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration-Visayas Chief Oscar Tabada said the unit started running again yesterday morning after local technicians identified and repaired the worn part manufactured in the United States.

“As of 9 a.m. (yesterday), the Doppler radar in Mactan is now functioning,” Tabada said during the Department of Science and Technology-Visayas cluster Science and Technology Fair launching yesterday noon.

PAGASA technicians Jomer Eclarino and Gibson Siamoc and Chief Meteorologist Al Quiblat have been troubleshooting the radar since late June this year before finally identifying the problem—a “loose housing of the gearing.”

“June 20 pa ta nagsugod ug troubleshoot. Mianhi ang taga Manila (PAGASA central office) to help sa troubleshooting. Then nag-consult pud ta sa technical engineering sa supplier from Alabama. With the series of tests that we ran, atong nahibaw-an unsay problema mga last week of July,” Quiblat told The Freeman.

To precisely pinpoint the problem, the technical team had to tap the machine shop at the University of San Carlos College of Engineering.

“Pero di ta kagarantiya nga mo-last ni nga part kay naguba na baya ning daan, ato lang giayo. Although usa ni siya sa mga part nga rare maguba. Ato tong ikabit ang coming spare part nga gi-purchase sa Alabama nga muabot next week. Ato tong i-test then ayha ta mu-decide kung padayunon ta ni og gamit or kato nang bag-o nga part,” Quiblat said.

Tabada said the part of the equipment they bought from Alabama cost the DOST around P900,000, while the  PAGASA-Mactan technicians spent P1,800 in troubleshooting and fixing the busted radar part.

He suspected that recent catastrophes have damaged the device, causing it to fail.

“The two major earthquakes in 2012 and 2013 that were felt in Mactan may have contributed. It could also be that the part simply wore out after almost four years of operating,” the weather bureau official said.

Prior to having a Doppler radar in 2011, PAGASA Mactan used a Weather Surveillance Radar 77 from 1988 to 2002, and no radar from 2002 up to 2011. (FREEMAN)