By Cet Dematera (The Philippine Star) Updated December 22, 2010
LEGAZPI CITY, Philippines – The landslide-prone town of Manito in Albay is showing the way in devising a low-cost early disaster warning system using recycled bottles and bells but equipped with remote sensing and ground surveying capabilities.
Funded by the World Bank, the P7-million project was installed with the help of experts of Albay’s Center for Initiatives and Researches on Climate Change Adaptation (CIRCA) and the University of the Philippines-Los Baños.
Albay Gov. Joey Salceda said Manito town was chosen as pilot area because it is perennially hit by landslides during heavy downpours or typhoons owing to its mountainous terrain and coastline.
“The bottles will serve as rain gauge and indicator of possible flood or landslide. The bells will serve as the alarm system to inform the barangays to prepare or evacuate if necessary,” Salceda told The STAR.
To ensure effective implementation of this low-cost early warning system, Salceda said a team of experts would further organize the local communities, and educate and train them in measuring key climate indicators related to floods and landslides.
They will also be trained to learn more about their environment: soil types, slopes, vegetation covers, and river system, among others, which are all related to vulnerabilities, he said.
“The training aims to improve their capacity to access and use hazard risk information and enhance their early warning system,” Salceda said.
Salceda even recalled how barangays in Manito initiated their own evacuation plans based on rain gauge readings, notifying the provincial government so evacuees could avail themselves of assistance when typhoon “Dante” hit the town.
Salceda said the pilot project is also in compliance with the climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction slogan – reduce, reuse, and recycle.
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