The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has included at least three major projects in Bohol for this year and 2018.

The list of projects that PAGASA presented to the Provincial Development Council (PDC) includes the establishment of a synoptic and aviation weather station (metar and synop) at the New Bohol Airport site in Panglao, establishment of meteorological doppler radar station in Alburquerque, and deployment of early warning system (DEWS project) for flood-prone areas in Bohol.

Leonard Samar of PAGASA explained that a Synop or Surface Synoptic Station is “where observation of almost all meteorological elements are made at fixed observation times and are transmitted to the Central Office”.

“It is responsible for the dissemination of public weather forecasts, tropical cyclone bulletins, warnings and advisories and other related information to protect the lives and property of the general populace,” according to PAGASA.

Samar also explained that the metar format is used in conveying weather information, usually on pre-flight briefings.

The Metar at the New Bohol Airport is for gathering hourly meteorological aviation report.

“It is useful for the safety of our aviation operation in the province of Bohol,” Samar said.

The Synop is for gathering of “three hourly data from different weather parameter, useful for the formulation of a weather forecast”.

Meanwhile, the DEWS project will established in the Inabanga River basin, Loboc River basin, and Abatan River which are flood-prone areas.

It would be a community-based warning system or Bayanihan.

On the other hand, the Meteorological Doppler Station in Alburquerque will be established in barangayBasacdacu.

Samar said the Meteorological Doppler radar “is very useful as a tool to monitor the deference meteorological weather disturbance such as tropical cyclone, low pressure area, heavy rainfall and thunderstorm.

It is used to track and forecast the movement of tropical cyclone, monitor the actual position of a tropical cyclone, and in

in color-coded heavy rainfall warning.

Under the PAGASA heavy rainfall warning system, yellow is for calling community awareness, orange is for community preparedness, and red is for community response.

PAGASA proposed to set up a Doppler radar site in Baclayon.

PAGASA already has Doppler weather radars inTagaytay, Tampakan, Hinatuan, Subic, Virac, Cebu, Baler, Baguio, Aparri, and Guiuan.

It had also installed Doppler weather radars in Basco, Quezon in Palawan, and Iloilo in 2015.

Now under construction are Zamboanga Radar, Busuanga Radar, and Baguio Radar.

Samar said PAGASA has acquired an x-band radar in 2014 and another in 2015.