PAGASA unable to maintain P360M flood forecasting system due to budget constraints

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PAGASA's 246 hydromet stations have deteriorated beyond possibility of rehabilitation, while 96 were listed as inaccessible due to security concerns in the locality

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has been unable to maintain its P359.86 million rain and flood forecasting system since 2022, the Commission on Audit’s 2023 report found.

Since funding was cut off during the Duterte administration, the weather bureau was not able to maintain and operate the more than 2,000 hydrometeorological stations that form the backbone of the system it put up from 2010 to 2017.

The system includes automatic weather stations, automatic rain gauges, water level monitoring stations, warning posts or beacons.

In July 2018, an optimization project was launched to update and upgrade the capabilities of the hydromet stations to World Meteorological Organization (WMO) standards with P89.75 million in total funding.

“One of the notable accomplishments of the optimization project is the establishment of the CBFEWS (Community Based Flood Early Warning System), an integrated system of tools and plans managed by and for communities,” the audit team said.

“It provides near real-time early warnings when rising flood waters are detected.”

But installation site inspection conducted by auditors of the monitoring equipment at the PAGASA Science Garden, the San Simon Elementary School in Dinalupihan, Bataan, the Mabiga Bridge in Hermosa, Bataan, and a warning post in Sitio Toto, Barangay Cupang Proper in Balanga, Bataan revealed the lack of maintenance.

“The physical inspection of these sensors revealed they were substantially intact but needing repair and continuous maintenance. In the duration of the Optimization Project, the repair and maintenance of the stations were done by two technical personnel per region,” the report said.

COA said that repair and maintenance efforts were discontinued due to lack of funding from the Department of Science and Technology. A total of 246 hydromet stations have deteriorated beyond possibility of rehabilitation while 96 were listed as inaccessible due to security concerns in the locality.

Maintenance includes mobile data subscription to transmit data collected by sensors, replacement of batteries, rewiring, and labor to trim the vegetation in the stations.

“However, the PAGASA cannot cover these additional expenses from its own regular fund due to budget constraints. They tried to include these in the requested budget in the GAA (General Appropriations Act) for CYs 2019 to 2022 but the request was not granted,” the COA said.

Early warning systems are adaptation measures that help local governments and affected citizens prepare for climate-related hazards or an incoming disaster. These tools can save lives, homes, and jobs. – Rappler.com