HyDEPP-SATREPS visits water monitoring and rain gauge stations in Pampanga and Nueva Ecija

July 14, 2023

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The project members visited the PAGASA Pampanga River Basin Flood Forecasting & Warning Center (PRFFWC) and different water monitoring and rain gauge stations last June 18, 2023 to support researchers' activities in HyDEPP-SATREPS. Members who joined the field visit were Dr. Kentaro Aida, Dr. Tomoki Ushiyama, Dr. Katsunori Tamakawa, Dr. Shrestha Badri Bhakta, and Prof. Vicente Ballaran, Jr. Additionally, Mr. Kohei Hosonuma, a Ph.D. student from Tohoku University and Forester Rochelle Lantican, Project Assistant, were also present in the activity.

 

The team met the Chief, Mr. Hilton Hernando, and the staff of PRFFWC for a briefing regarding the water monitoring and rain gauge station visit surrounding Pampanga River Basin. After the briefing, the team visited stations in Mexico, Candaba, Arayat, San Isidro, Mayapya, and Cabiao Floodway to look at the equipment installed and understand how data collection is transferred to PAGASA. The members also observed water flow direction and flood height when typhoons hit areas surrounding the stations. Of all the water monitoring stations visited, Mayapyap was the most heavily damaged due to previous typhoons. The team was also brought to a bridge across the Pampanga River in Cabanuatuan City which was found as a potential water monitoring station site. 

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One of the issues identified during the field visit was the stations and equipment being vulnerable to theft, making maintenance a challenge for PAGASA.

 

The water monitoring and rain gauge station visits would help project members with their ongoing model development.