WITH the official declaration of the rainy season, Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Service Administration (PAGASA) has lined-up various activities for the observance of the Typhoon and Flood Awareness Week (TFAW).TFAW is a yearly event which is conducted every third week of June by the virtue of Presidential Proclamation 1535 series of 2008. The theme for this year is “Science-based Information for Safer Nation against Typhoon and Flood.”
With support from the Philippine Science Journalists Association, Inc. (PSciJourn), other government agencies and the private sector, TFAW aim to educate the public and promote hazards and mitigation awareness through public information dissemination campaigns on typhoon and flood awareness and mitigation.
Since the start of the month, PAGASA already hanged streamers in its offices and field stations, as well as encouraged participation from other government agencies.
PAGASA will also be conducting a typhoon and flood awareness seminar for the local government of the 2nd district of Bohol. This is in partnership with the science and Technology Committee of the House of Representatives headed by Congressman Erico Aristotle Aumentado.
Another major activity for the TFAW observation is the Media Seminar- Workshop for NCR. The said seminar is an annual event that aims to establish a good working relationship with the media and to help update their basic knowledge in meteorology particularly on disaster risk reduction and management. The three-days seminar will be held in Morong, Bataan. The public is also encouraged to be more aware and prepared for the other hazards associated with typhoon such as heavy rains, strong winds, storm surges, landslides, and mudflows.
The installations of High Frequency Doppler Radar (HFDR) in four coastal areas in the Philippines such as Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) in San Antonio, Zambales; Masinloc, Zambales; Berong, Palawan; and Punta Baja, Palawan measure the ocean wave height, wave direction and speed, ocean current, and sea surface temperature using state-of-the-art HF radar-based signal. It gives exact, accurate, and real time forecasting, said Engineer Catalino L. Davis, Deputy Administrator for Administration and Engineering Services, PAGASA, in a press launching of TFAW held at PAGASA Amihan Conference Room, Science Garden, Agham Road, Diliman, Quezon City on Friday, 16th of June 2017.
