By Michelle Cedano
ATIMONAN, Quezon (PNA) -– Quezon Governor David “Jay-Jay” C. Suarez led the signing of agreement and turn-over of the third automated weather station with officials from the Therma Luzon Inc., Aboitiz Power and Weather Philippines Foundation on Wednesday.
The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) and turn-over rites for the automated weather facility provide for the installation of the unit in Atimonan, Quezon.
Provincial Administrator Rommel Edano said the event is considered “historic” in view of the public and private partnership for the benefit of Quezonians and neighboring residents gifted with the facility grant.
Edano thanked the donors for the weather station device because this will aid in disaster-preparedness, forecast weather conditions and assist in the province’s climate change adaptation measures.
Therma Luzon Inc. President and Chief Operating Officer Benjamin Cariaso Jr. disclosed that his firm fulfilled Governor Suarez’ request for the said automated weather station to be set up in Quezon.
The Atimonan weather station is the third facility installed in the province after two units were set up in Lucena City, he said.
Celso Caballero III, General Manager of Weather Philippines Foundation stated the weather station signals the beginning of the Foundation and participating firms’ support to the provincial government’s disaster risk reduction.
Caballero added that they will be conducting training for the proper use of the automated weather station.
Weather Philippines Foundation targets to install some 1,000 automated weather stations across the country until the end of 2013 to assist in disaster preparedness of various localities.
The equipment provides information on localized weather, solar radiation, wind energy and motion, temperature, humidity, energy and rainfall and the information could also be accessed through the website www.weather.com.ph.
Atimonan Mayor Jose Mendoza thanked the donors for choosing his town as the site of the third automated weather station that could benefit not only his constituents but also the residents of the nearby coastal towns of Perez, Alabat, Quezon and Mauban where fishing is the main occupation.
Mendoza added that the equipment gives advance information about the weather condition to forewarn residents and avert possible accidents.