Community-Based Flood Early
Warning System (CBFEWS)

Prepared by:Eng’r. Hilario G. Esperanza
Eng’r. Socrates F. Paat, Jr.

Flood Forecasting Branch
PAGASA Weather Bureau
Department of Science and TechnologyPhilippines

Outline of Presentation¾ Weather-causing phenomena¾ Climate of the Philippines¾ Rationale of CBFEWS¾ Activities¾ Progress of implementation

The climate of the Philippines isinfluenced by the complex interactionsof the various factors such as :ßGeographic location and topography¹¹Ã¹¹Ocean currents
Semi-permanent cyclones and anti-cyclones
Principal Air StreamsLinear systems
Tropical Cyclones

CLASSIFICATION OF TROPICAL CYCLONESTROPICAL DEPRESSION - maximum sustainedwinds is from 45 to 63 kph.
• TROPICAL STORM - maximum sustained winds isfrom 64 to 117 kph.
• TYPHOON – maximum sustained winds is 118 kphand higher.
•(Super Typhoon- used by Joint Tropical Warning
Center when max. winds is greater than 215 kph).

Public Storm Warning Signals#1- Wind speed 30-60 kph in 36 hours#2- Wind speed 61-100 kph in 24 hours#3- Wind speed 101-185 kph in 18 hours#4- Wind speed greater than 185 kph in 12 hours

Frequency of Tropical Cyclone Occurrence•Typhoon season is from June to December although
no month is typhoon free•Peak months are July, August and September

THE PHILIPPINE AREA OF RESPONSIBILITY [PAR]27120
2526252423222120135
25ONCE A TROPICAL CYCLONEIS INSIDE THE PAR,PAR IT IS
GIVEN A PILIPINO NAME

20191817161515

141312111098765455115135114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121 122 123 124 125 126 127 128 129 130 131 132 133 134 135 136 137

Average Tropical Cyclone Tracks

Second Quarter (April, May, June)First Quarter (Jan,Feb,Mar)May Jun Apr

MayMAR
JunFEB

AprJANJAN

MARMARJAN
FEB

JunAprMay
Apr

JUL AUG SEP
AUG
SEP
JUL
AUG

NOV

DEC

Fourth Quarter (Oct, Nov, Dec)
AUG
SEP
JUL
AUG

Third Quarter (July, Aug, Sep)

OCT
NOV
DEC
DEC
NOV

OCT
NOV

DEC
DEC
NOV

Philippine Climate Classification

• Every year ~ 20 tropical cyclones enter
the Philippine Area of Responsibility (PAR)• ~ 9 make landfall• Affected by monsoons & other weathersystems• Casualties and damages due to hydrometeorological hazards are highMonitored Basinsand Dams

Community Based
Flood Early Warning
System (CBEWS)
Hazard Mapping and Assessment for
Effective Community Based Disaster
Risk Management(READY Project – funded by UNDP)

The Community-based ConceptWhy pursue a CBFEWS?
• It empowers local government
units (LGU’s) and the communities
to protect themselves againstfloods.
• They are in the best position toundertake preparedness
measures against floods.
• It is sustainable.

Activities in CBFEWS
1. Coordination with LGUs & other institutions(consultation meetings)

Activities in CBFEWS
2. Survey (tabletop) and design of network

Activities in CBFEWS
3. Site survey (ocular inspection)(Verification of identified sites for accessibility, communication, etc.
get coordinates)

Activities in CBFEWS
4. Procurement / fabrication of equipment

Activities in CBFEWS
5. Procurement / fabrication of equipment

AUTOMATIC
RAIN GAUGE

Battery-operated
LCD Monitor(inside the building)Activities in CBFEWS
6. Procurement / fabrication of equipment

Water level gauge templateActivities in CBFEWS
7. Installation of equipment (raingauge)

Standard Raingauge

Activities in CBFEWS
8. Installation of equipment (automaticraingauge)
Rain Gauge

Activities in CBFEWS
9. Installation of equipment (water level gauge)
LADDER

CUT-OUT PATTERN (MADE OF CARDBOARD)

Standard Raingauge
SPRAY PAINT

Activities in CBFEWS
10. Discharge Measurement & Cross-sectioning(hydrographic survey measurement)

River cross-sectioning activities are undertaken
to establish assessment levels for flood
warning.

Discharge or river
flow measurement

Activities in CBFEWS
11. Training of LGU personnel & members of community

On-the-job training

Formal training (lecture)

Activities in CBFEWS
12. Dry run / IEC / Operationalization
Rainfall
Water level

Flow of Data / Information System
RR Stn.3
RR Stn.2
WL Stn. 2Operation
center

RR Stn 1

WL Stn.1
FloodWarningCommunity

Activities in CBFEWS
13. MOA signing, passage of local ordinance in supportof the CBEWSLEGISLATIVE SUPPORT (Dumangas, Iloilo)• ORDINANCE NO 2005-01
entitled, “AN ORDINANCEPROVIDING AN ANNUAL
APPROPRIATION FOR THE
MAINTENANCE AND OTHER
OPERATIONAL EXPENSES OF
THE COMMUNITY-BASEDFLOOD AND DROUGHTFORECASTING ANDWARNING SYSTEM IN
DUMANGAS, ILOILO”.

Responsibilities of Institutions
Provincial Government
1. Coordinate with municipalities in the establishment of CBEWS;
2. Assist PAGASA in identifying the suitable communication
facilities/network for the CBEWS;
3. Organize trainings/meetings for CBEWS;
4. Facilitate the signing of the MOA among stakeholders;
5. Monitor and ensure the smooth implementation of the project andthe smooth operation of the CBEWS;
6. Assist the municipalities in the allocation of funds for operation& maintenance of the CBEWS through the enactment of amunicipal ordinance; and7. Provide all observed data and information to PAGASA on amonthly basis.

Responsibilities of InstitutionsMunicipalities
1. Assist PAGASA in the site survey, fabrication & installation ofrainfall, water level and tide gauges & flood markers &hydrographic surveys;
2. Ensure the implementation of the project by signing theMemorandum of agreement;
3. Provide two observers per station to be trained by PAGASA;
4. Operate, maintain and secure the installed equipment;
5. Ensure the sustainability of the system through the passage ofan ordinance in support of the CBEWS
6. Prepare and issue flood advisories/warnings to threatenedcommunities; and7. Provide real-time data and warnings to the Provincial
Government and the designated operation center.

Responsibilities of Institutions
PAGASA
1. Coordinate with the LGUs and concerned institutions in theestablishment of the CBEWS.
2. Conduct survey and design monitoring network in coordination
with LGUs.
3. Install monitoring equipment in collaboration with LGUs.
4. Train LGUs in the fabrication and installation of monitoring
instruments.
5. Train LGUs on observation, recording and transmission of data.
6. Train Municipal Planning and Development Officer & otherkey municipal personnel in the analysis of data & preparationof warnings/advisories.
7. Conduct monitoring and evaluation of CBEWS.

Responsibilities of Institutions
OCD Regional Office
1. Assist PAGASA in the coordination of the project with
LGUs and other agencies.
2. Assist in information & warning dissemination.
3. Assist in monitoring & evaluation of CBEWS and provide
data on casualties and damages.

DOST Regional Office
1. Assist PAGASA in the coordination of the project with
LGUs and other agencies.
2. Assist in information & warning dissemination.
3. Assist in monitoring & evaluation of CBEWS.

1. Lower Pampanga River Basin (Bulacan)•••••

Initiative and funded by theProvincial Government of Bulacan
Operational in June 2005
Transmission of data & warnings:
SMS/voice
Memorandum of Agreement(MOA) & Local ordinanceenacted
Project cost ~PhP1.0M

Installation ofRaingauge Gauge

Installation of Water
Level Gauge

Citation was given to PAGASA
by the Prov’l. Gov’t. of Bulacan

PID on flood disaster mitigation
to members of DCCs

2. Jalaur River Basin••••••

Initiative of Municipal
Government (Dumangas, Iloilo)Commenced in June 2003
Funding: National Disaster
Coordinating Council (NDCC)
Transmission of data & warnings:
SMS/voice
Project cost ~PhP1.0M
Activities undertaken:
9 Survey and design ofnetwork
9 Fabrication andinstallation of rainfall andwater level gauges
9 MOA signed and local
ordinance enacted
9 Preparation of operations
manual3. Agno-allied River Basins (Province of Pangasinan)
••
•
•
•
•

Initiative of Provincial
Government
Commenced in September 2004
Funded by JICA
Transmission of data & warnings:
radio
Project cost ~ PhP1.9M
Activities undertaken:
9 Survey and design network
9 Installation of rainfall andwater level gauges and relay
stations
9 Operations manual9 Training/Seminar/Dry-Run
9 MOA signed and localordinance enacted
9 Dry-run of CBFEWS

4. Surigao del Sur River Basins••••••••

Commenced April 01, 2006
Funded by UNDP (AusAID)
with counterpart from LGUs
Coordination meetings withLGU’s & other institutions –conducted
Draft Memorandum ofAgreement – under review
by LGUs & gov’t. institutions(OCD & DOST CARAGA)
Survey and design ofnetwork
Procurement & fabricationof equipment.
Installation of the equipment
IEC/Dry-run

5. Surigao del Norte River Basins••••••••

Commenced June 2006
Funded by UNDP (AusAID)
with counterpart from LGUs
Coordination meetings withLGU’s & other institutions –June 15, 2006
Draft Memorandum ofAgreement – under review
by LGUs & gov’t. institutions(OCD & DOST CARAGA)
Survey and design ofnetwork –completed
Procurement & fabricationof equipment
Installation of equipment
IEC / Dry-Run(1:50 Topographic Maps)*Contours*Spot elevations•12 Municipalities (excluding Dinagat Is.)
•11 River Basins•11 Major River & Creeks (Lengths~8 to38 kms)

Target areas of CBFEWS
Cagayan river basin(Cagayan, Isabela andNueva Viscaya)

Abra river basin(Abra & Ilocos Sur)

Agno river basin (Beguet,Pangasinan & Tarlac)

Nueva Viscaya
AuroraBicol river basin(Camarines Sur, Camarines
Norte & small part of Albay)

Pampanga river basin(Pampanga, Nueva Ecija andBulacan)

Leyte Island (Leyte& So Leyte)

Antique

Telemetered

Bohol

On-going
Proposed
Operational

N & E Samar

Surigao del Norte
Surigao del Sur

Zamboanga delSibuguey

For additional information, VISIT us at
http://www.pagasa.dost.gov.ph

THANK YOU
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