Philippine's Project NOAH

As the President of the Philippines, President Benigno S. Aquino III became upset with the much said FAIL weather forecasts, DOST (Department of Science and Technology) came up with a response by creating the "Project NOAH" or the (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards).

The Project aims to harness technologies and management services for disaster risk reduction activities by the the DOST through other Philippine agencies such as PAGASA, PHIVOLCS and DOST-ASTI (Advanced Science and Technology Institute, in partnership with UP National Institute of Geological Science and the UP College of Engineering.

Launched last July 6, 2012 many had their hopes up with the project and for those who doesn't know, it is still in its BETA stage.

According to the Official Gazette of the Philippines, the project has different components but as of now we could only feel and experience the functionality of one of them.

As of now, what NOAH has is the Weather Hazard Information Project (WHIP) which of course, based on its title, relays an expected accurate weather information from rainfall to weather systems that will hit the country.

Other components that NOAH will have or be completed in 2013 - 2014 are:

- Distribution of Hydrometeorological Devices in hard-hit areas in the Philippines (Hydromet)

- Disaster Risk Exposure Assessment for Migration - Light Detection and Ranging (DREAM-LIDAR)


- Enhancing Geohazards Mapping through LIDAR


- Coastal Hazards and Storm Surge Assessment and Mitigation (CHASSAM)


- Flood Information Network (FloodNET) Project


- Local Development of Doppler Radar Systems (LaDDeRS)


- Landslide Sensors Development Project

As the project aims to relay accurate information or high percentage on its forecasts about possible hazards / calamities to come, technology seems to be a major issue that the project encountered.
A year is about to pass and most of us were waiting for the completion of this enormous project and hoping that they have the full support they needed from the government.

The Greenest Olympics?

(Image from Living Green Magazine)

Have you noticed the "?" in my title? Well, this is because I'm not really decided which side should I believe. Please take a tour at my post to find out more about the London Olympics.

As the London Olympics is nearing its end, have you ever heard that they tried to make it the greenest Olympics in modern history? According to what I’ve read from “Go Green” contributor Michelle Hallahan, LOCOG ( London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games ) have taken much effort to make this possible.     

       

What they have done:

·         It was built on once-contaminated industrial land in the degenerated East end of London

·         Providing both new wildlife habitats and significant flood alleviation

·         The greenest built Olympic and Paralympic stadium in history repurposed old gas pipes in much of its construction

London 2012 is the first Olympic and Paralympic Games to measure its carbon footprint over the entire project term and also reused or recycled over 98 per cent of waste in the demolition phase, and 99 per cent in construction of the Olympic Park.  London 2012 also pledged to deliver an event that favored public transport, targeting one million extra walking and cycling journeys in London every day of the games.

Before this tremendous event take place, the event organizers spent four years to be certified BS8901, the British ‘Sustainable Events Management’ standard. To achieve this they did went on greening the supply chain, managing waste to minimize landfill use, reusing or repurposing materials where possible, and educating the audience (of over 1 million people!) about environmental aspects of the games.

As I read the article, I’ve noticed a noticeable comment left by an audience. (Where I later found that if the name was stated correctly / truthfully was someone who is also well known in what I categorize as “the green field”)

 Well, it seems that a lot was not mentioned in the press release if what he was saying was right. About the sponsors, the energy management, and even bike lanes for those who try to conserve energy…

Making what I’ve read and stated above, mostly false.

How about you? What’s your opinion about the issue? Whose side says the truth?

Well, we all know that anyone will try to hide the stench of their activities. It’s up to us to decide whose side are we taking.

So, whose side are you with?

The Journal : August Monsoon

The Journal: August Monsoon

Location: Quezon City, Philippines

Date: (August 7, 2012)

Time: 10:12 AM ( GMT – 8 Pacific Time )

Photos/Text By: Reilly Reverie

Schools & Office ( Private & Public for NCR ) was now suspended according to the office of the President.

I’m currently watching the news as of the moment and am witnessing serious flooding in different parts of Luzon. I can’t even count the leaks at our ceiling but currently the situation was quite stable for us here. The rain stops falling for almost 20 minutes now and great was my expectation for the flood to subside though a certain “barangay” is now requesting to cut their electric supply and even rubber boats were having a hard time during the rescue.

The creek behind us overflows and gladly it still doesn’t reach our doorsteps as of the moment. If you look at the image below, (sorry for the quality it’s the best I’ve got) is my own way of measuring the water level of the creek.

( during ) ( as it stabilizes ) ( after the monsoon )

The blue plastic bag serves as my measuring guide.

Time: 11:21 AM ( GMT – 8 Pacific Time )

As we pack our things for preparation of the worst case scenario, heavy rain pours again. I went outside to have a clear view of the gray sky and as the situation becomes calm for a while we’re still on Red Signal and some of the dams were now turning back to their normal levels.

While landslides and road cracks happen in Baguio ( Northern Part of Luzon ), Laguna ( Southern Part of Luzon ) declared that they are in State of Calamity and from this image I got from the news, some of them has to stay at rooftops for even their two story houses were fully submerged due to flood.

The sad part about this is that, according to DENR ( Department of Environment and Natural Resources ) Chief, “Heavy Rains” were now to be considered as normal scenarios that would be encountered by the Philippines.

As the President and his members plan for a long-term solution for the situation ( where preparations to accomplishment will also take long periods of time ), same questions were read over and over through the internet.

“Is this part of Climate Change / Global Warming”

They say it’s not part of it but the outcome makes it acceptable to the question.

As tons of garbage and trash were flooded to the streams, bays and sea shores… Awareness seeks its way to the peoples consciousness – heart.

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Light to Dark: New Color Coded Signals

Announced last August 9,  2012

At approximately 8:30 in the morning, PAGASA announced the newly color coded warning signals.

As you can recall from my post "From Yellow to Green..." Green was the previous position holder of the color code Orange. Still, their description was the same... It was only the colors that was changed.

From what I've read... (comments)
It seems that the color code: Orange has higher acceptance rating to the people rather than its previous color.
According to someone,

"If you look at the stoplight, the color code: Green means "go" or "don't stop".... If that was the color assigned for those warning signals, then it seems pretty dangerous."

Besides, green doesn't seem so alarming if seen by the eyes. It was like accompanied by the term "peace" or "nature".

As the color turns "light-to-dark" it signifies "calm-to-disaster" to me. So I think I'd agree with this change and as the new code emerges, the Philippines is taking another step to recovery from the calamity.

What about you? Do you think the color fits well?

Philippine Emergency Hotlines

To those who still needs assistance and affected by the flood... You can call this numbers...

PAGASA
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration: 433-85-26

NDRRMC
(National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council): ( 911-14-06 ) / ( 912-26-65 ) / ( 912-56-68 )

MMDA
Metro Manila Development Authority Metrobase: 136

PNP
Philippine National Police: 117

MERALCO: 16211

Red Cross: 143 / (02) 527-00-00

BFP
Bureau of Fire Protection: (02)729-5166, (02)410-6254, (02)431-8859, (02)407-1230

Philippine Coast Guard: 0917-(PDC-DOTC)

DPWH
Department of Public Works and Highways: (02) 304-37-13

NLEX
North Luzon Expressway: (02)3-5000 and (02)580-89-10

SCTEX
Subic-Clark-Tarlack Expressway: (0920) 96-SCTEX (72839)

SKYWAY
Skyway System: (02)776-7777

SLEX
South Luzon Expressway: 0908-8807539

DOTC
Department of Transportation and Communication: 7890 or 0918-8848484

From Yellow to Green ... To Red!!!

From  Yellow to Green .... To Red!!! ( 11:30PM )

Originally posted:
August 6, 2012

19:00

UPDATE:

PAGASA 11:30pm advisory: RED warning(heavy-intense rains) in next 3 hours. Floods in low-lying areas, near rivers. 

It’s all over the news tonight. From Yellow to Green the signals have already switched. As a typhoon (Typhoon Haikui)  out of the Philippine’s Area of Responsibility pulls clouds filled with rain to pour its devastating droplets to fill not only the country’s capital but other province’s streets as well.

According to PAG-ASA: (If my memory serves me well)

Green Signal – Possibility of Evacuation

Yellow Signal – Possibility of Flood

Red Signal – (**Still got no idea… Definitely something much more worse**)

And from what I’ve heard tonight, we’re still in Green Signal (Metro Manila) and we’re also advised to move to higher grounds for safety. Seeing the effect of a non-typhoon to a country makes me wonder how much more could a real typhoon do?

Would it be something like ONDOY from 2009 where floods were as tall as vehicles?

For those who have no idea who ONDOY was, let me give you something I’ve heard and from what I’ve experienced during it’s reign.

ONDOY was a typhoon who visits the Philippines last October 2009 which left us with mud in our walls, useless books, worn out furniture due to flood, and unusable gadgets which was soaked during the typhoon. It all happened in a day. Rain started before dawn and before noon, water was all over houses at approximately 3 and half feet (at ours) but as I heard the news, there were other areas which was already flooded much more worse than from what we experienced.  When the clock struck at 2PM, the only view you could see from our house was its roof but the flood easily subside at the end of the day. According to the news, that rainfall was equivalent to a month of rain. ( I didn’t get the average mm per hour ) but I can assure you that it was something that left us with a picture horrible enough to leave us aware of what would happen next.

Found something about the signals!

What is the meaning of PAGASA-Yellow, Green, and Red Warningsignals? For more information on Yellow, Green, and Red Warningsignals mean, check out this graphic: 

Red Warning: More than 30 mm rain observed in 1 hour and expected to continue in the next 2 hours. Serious flooding expected in low-lying areas. Response: Evacuation
Green Warning: 15-30mm (intense) rain observed in 1 hour and expected to continue in the next 2 hours. Flooding is threatening. Response: Alert for possible evacuation
Yellow Warning: 7.5-15mm (heavy) rain observed in 1 hour and expected to continue in the next 2 hours. Flooding is possible. Response: Monitor the weather condition

Back to the story tonight, without a typhoon, we face a green signal with trash and plastics all over the streets which clogs drainage systems. Is this really all about the typhoon? Or is this all about discipline?

What do you think?

Ty-Funs in the Philippines

It's more fun in the Philippines!

And if I have something called sense of humor, I might have considered making a banner with "Ty-funs are fun in the Philippines!"

("Gener" four days ago from date of post)

August 3, 2012

Didn't even heard that Typhoon Gener made a land fall but still, it left us terribly damaged.
"Gener" with an International name of "Saolo" left the Philippines with 37 people dead and 33 were injured according to GMA News as of today.

As I open social media sites, there were lot of posts there which hopes for the suspension of classes. There were no announced Typhoon Signal for Manila (the Capital of the Philippines) as far as I know but still, even college students were protesting for the suspension of classes through social networks due to strong winds and flooded roads.

Lots of places were left flooded and as I speak (type) my thoughts today, a lot of my countrymen still reside in evacuation centers to spend the night with.

At times, I was thinking, is this still the effect of Global Warming?
For as far as I can remember floods and typhoons were continuously visiting the country.

If you have read my previous post, "Project Noah" I stated there about the approximate number of Typhoons that regularly pass through the Philippines.

Well, if this is still part of Global Warming, then it must be safe to declare that we must be hoping worst typhoons to come. Not that I'm hoping for them but because awareness and the urge to help the preservation of our host planet doesn't still reach the hearts of many.

How long shall we wait? How long shall we endure the pain?
Have we done something about it?
Have you done something about it?

You as one could make a difference.

A Run for Pasig River 2012

Another event for helping the environment!

A Run for Pasig River is annually held in different locations in the Philippines since 2008 (As far as I can recall). An annual event that encourages others to take action on the problems of the said river.

We commonly know that fun runs are used to produce funds and increase awareness about something. Besides those funds doesn’t just go to someone else’s pockets but to the needy. In this case, our beloved Pasig River.

So who is "Pasig River"?

Project Noah of DOST

It's been a while since I last post.

And it's been a month since I heard about this innovation made by DOST...
It was called "Project NOAH"

The aim of the system is to predict the weather through the use of their advance technology.
An online program that will tell the visitor the possibilities of rainfall shown in percentage and color coded maps.

The Manila Bay Clean Up

With all the terrifying news lately, I’ve seen an awesome portrayal of oneness to be highlighted. This happened during the second week of May. (Sorry I can’t specify the date, all I know is that they did this during this week) Had no internet connection for a few days. This video was aired last Tuesday (May 8, 2012)

What now for "Panatag" Shoal

"Panatag" Shoal, commonly known as "Scarborough Shoal" and China calls it "Huangyan Island".

What do I know about it? Technically, I know nothing. I'm just a spectator on the news, hearing things and continuous problems that our country faces right now.

So what's in it for me? I don't think this issue could even help me boost anything on my part but I'm just somewhat affected by the fact that some endangered species were being harvested by China-owned ships.
I hope you don't get me wrong, I'm not against China, and to be honest, most of my belongings were made from China so I got nothing against them except for this issue.

Welcome!

Another aspiring writer / journalist / poet on the loose. Well that's just what I think. Hope you could stay with me throughout the process. What I'm aiming to do is spread the news about my country regarding nature and such. But still, everything counts. There might be some time that I'd be posting something that's not related to the niche of this blog and I hope you'd be kind enough to understand that.

As you can see I already made a fan page about this before, hoping that we could spread the word together on saving our planet. We already posted some details, and images found in the web to attract attention and support about our dying planet and still, we should continue that no matter what.

Thanks for your time.
See you soon.
God Bless!