1. Department of Science and Technology
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration
Disaster Risk Reduction Practitioner’s Workshop
14 November 2013 * Bangkok, Thailand
Rosalie C. PAGULAYAN
Weather Specialist II, Hydrometeorology Division
oyiep@pagasa.dost.gov.ph

2. Geographical landscape of the Philippines
and the different weather systems that
govern its climatic condition
Existing flood early warning system
Community-based flood early warning
system

3. The climate of the Philippines is influenced by the complex
interactions of various factors such as:
Windward side


Philippine Geography and
Topography
Ocean currents

Semi-permanent cyclones
and anti-cyclones

Principal Air Streams

Linear systems

Tropical Cyclones
Associated hazard: flashflood

4. Name of River Basin
Drainage Area (square kilometer)
River Length (km)
1. Cagayan
27,280
505
2. Mindanao
23,169
373
3. Agusan
10,621
350
4. Pampanga
9,759
260
5. Agno
5,952
206
6. Abra
5,125
181
7. Pasig-Marikina-Laguna Bay
4,678
78
8. Bicol
3,771
136
9. Abulog
3,372
175
10. Tagum-Libuganon
3,064
89
11. Ilog-Hilabangan
1,945
178
12. Panay
1,843
152
13. Tagoloan
1,704
106
14. Agus
1,645
36
15. Davao
1,623
150
16. Cagayan De Oro
1,521
90
17. Jalaur
1,503
123
18. Buayan-Malungon
1,434
64

5. Telemetered
River Basins:
• Pampanga
• Agno
• Bicol
• Cagayan
Telemetered
Reservoirs:
• Angat
• Pantabangan
• Magat
• Binga/Ambuklao
• San Roque
2012 – Caliraya Dam FFWSDO started its
operation

6. Rainfall station
Flood Forecasting and WarningMain Operation Center
Telemetry Equipment
Communication tower
Water level
gauge
River Center & its Operation
Room
Rain gauge & solar
panel
Fixed and mobile warning facilities

7. A “Non-Structural” flood disaster mitigation/management program that is
based on the operative capability of the community operating it.

8.  Conceptualized in 1999. The initiative of the Province of Bulacan to
address the need for an early warning system in their flood prone
areas was the pilot CBFEWS in the country, which was set-up in
2003, followed by the City of Dumangas, Iloilo in 2005. Both LGUs
utilized their own funds for this endeavor.
 2006 launching of the READY Project (Hazard Mapping and
Assessment for Effective Community-Based Disaster Risk
Management). It was aimed at addressing the problem of Disaster
Risk Management (DRM) at the local level.
 Three (3) main components:
1. Multi-hazard identification and disaster risk assessment
- Multihazard mapping (1:10,000 scale for landslide and
floods; 1:50,000 scale for earthquake/volcano-related hazards
and storm surge)

9. 2. Community-Based Disaster Preparedness
2.1. Development of Information Education and Campaign
(IEC) strategies and materials for specific target groups
2.2 Installation of Community-Based Early Warning System
(CBEWS) for hydrometeorological and geologic hazards
3. Mainstreaming of Disaster Risk Reduction into the local
Disaster Preparedness Plan
PAGASA provides the technical assistance.
PAGASA develops the standard methodology on how the
CBFEWS shall be established in two (2) phases: implementation
phase and operational phase
LGUs to ensure the sustainability of the CBFEWS thru Municipal
Resolution, Ordinance, etc.

10.  It empowers local government units (LGU’s) and the communities
to protect themselves against floods.
 The community and LGUs are in the best position to undertake
preparedness measures against floods, since the CBFEWS will make
the most out of the indigenous/home-grown practices of the
community in mitigating the impacts of flooding in their area.
 It is economical and easy to maintain.
 It is one way of addressing the need for an EWS in a small
communities that are not covered by the conventional
(telemetered) flood forecasting and warning system.

11. 1. River basin approach
2. Community participation or
involvement
–
Local
government
units
(LGUs)/Communities do the
observation and are trained
to analyze the data; issuance
of advisory
3. Mainstreaming of CBFEWS in
the Disaster Contingency Plan
of the community – to ensure
the sustainability of the
system.

12. 1. Consultation
with
the
LGUs/Community and other
stakeholders – roles and
responsibilities
LGUs
and
stakeholders are explained;
proposed network design is
presented,
counterpart
activities, MOA, etc.
2. Ocular survey of proposed sites
– for site verification, check
available
means
of
communication, conduct survey
of flooding scenarios, check
availability of warning system (if
there are any), indigenous
practices
that
could
be
integrated in the CBFEWS.

13. 3. Installation of monitoring equipment, flood signages,
hydrographic survey
and

14. 4. Training of observers
5. Conduct of Special IEC and Pilot
testing/Dry-run

15. 6. Turn over of CBFEWS to the Local Government Units

16. 1. Observation and recording of rainfall and water level data at specified time
interval described in the DATA OBSERVATION PROTOCOL (cited in the CBFEWS
Operation Manual).
Output: Hourly, daily, monthly data summaries, daily hydrological advisories
2.
Analysis of observed data &/or preparation & issuance of flood
advisories/warnings during inclement weather conditions described in the
WARNING PROTOCOL (Manual)
Output: Flood advisories/flood warning; actions to be undertaken, disaster &
rescue activities undertaken during inclement weather conditions
3. Physical check, maintenance & repair, if necessary, of installed instruments &
communication system by observers and LGUs;
Output: Working/operational instrument and communication system
4. Post flood survey and evaluation/documentation of flood warning activities
that would serve as reference to improve the subsequent operation of CBFEWS
Output: Flood warning activity reports – actions taken and recommendations;
record of flood marks, correlation between rainfall & water level

17. Rainfall Values
Meaning
Flood
Warning
Rainfall observation of 15 mm – 20
mm for the past hour
Awareness
READY
Rainfall observation is 60 mm – 80
mm for the past 3 hours
Preparedness
GET SET
Continuous rainfall for the last three
hours and 3-hourly observation is
more than 80 mm
Response
GO
* Values are arbitrary and will be modified when sufficient data becomes available.

18. Rainfall Values
Meaning
Flood
Warning
Rainfall observation of 006 – 008*
for the past hour
Awareness
READY
Rainfall observation is 008 to 024
for the past 3 hrs
Preparedness
GET SET
Continuous rainfall for the last three Response
hours and 3-hourly observation is
024- 032 or more
GO
Values are arbitrary and will be modified when sufficient data becomes available.
* Values of RR for the digital raingauge is in inches (in)

19. 3
2
GO
1
Actual Water
Level (m)
Meaning
Flood Warning
Level 1
1.1 m
Awareness
READY
Level 2
1.5 m
Preparedness
GET SET
Level 3
2.0 m
Response
GO
* Values are arbitrary and will be modified when sufficient data becomes available.

20. 15-20mm
006
to
Digital Rain
Gauge
LEVEL 1
008
Standard Manual
Rain Gauge
Staff or Water Level
Gauge
* Rainfall & water level criteria are preliminary estimates and still
requires validation during actual events to refine the rainfall criteria.

21. 60-80 mm in
3-hours
008
to
Digital Rain
Gauge
024
Standard Manual
Rain Gauge
Staff or Water Level
Gauge
* Rainfall & water level criteria are preliminary estimates and still
requires validation during actual events to refine the rainfall criteria.

22. More than 80
mm in 3 hours
024
to
Digital Rain
Gauge
032 or
LEVEL 3
River
conditions
show signs of
mud-like
color; with
debris
Standard Manual Staff or Water Level
Rain Gauge
Gauge
* Rainfall & water level criteria are preliminary estimates and still
requires validation during actual events to refine the rainfall criteria.

25. Warning
Phase
1 - READY
2 - Get SET
3 - GO
Flood
Advisory
Communication
of Warning
1 - MDCC
2 – BDCC
3 – Local
Volunteers
Data / Flood
Advisory /
Warning
Weather
Update / Info
D
a
O ta/R
RR Observers
bs
er ain
va fa
tio ll
W
n
Up ea
da the
Disaster
te/ r
In
fo
Operation Center
er
th nfo
(DOC)
ea I
W ate/
d
ll Municipal Hall
Up
fa n
n
ai io
/R vat
Water Level
ta r
Da bse
Observers
O
Bandillo
Megaphone
w/siren
Church Bells
Target
Community
Batingaw
Sitio/Purok
Leaders
Evacuation
Center
◄◄
◄◄
◄◄
◄◄
Flood info
1 – Color
2 – Speed of Flow
3- Sound
4 – Presence of
Debris
RDCC
PDCC
Weather
Update /
Info
PAGASA- Field Station
Legend: ◄ Information starts here in case of large-scale
◄◄
◄◄
◄◄
River
Observation
◄
system (Ex. typhoon and monsoon).
Information starts here in case of local/
small-scale system (Ex. Thunderstorm and
ITCZ).

26. 1. Agreement among the stakeholders
Prior to installation, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), which
stipulates the roles and responsibilities of the LGUs and community,
including their full support in all the activities that will be undertaken and
the involved institutions, is prepared, agreed upon and signed.
2. Enhancement of a Local Ordinance for Operation and Maintenance
The MOA is binding only within the tenure of the Local Chief Executive,
which is 3 years. To ensure the sustainability of CBFEWS, particularly the
allocation of a reasonable amount for the O&M, a local Ordinance has to
be enacted by the City or Municipal Council.
ORDINANCE NO 2005-01 entitled, “AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING AN
ANNUAL APPROPRIATION FOR THE MAINTENANCE AND OTHER
OPERATIONAL EXPENSES OF THE COMMUNITY-BASED FLOOD AND
DROUGHT FORECASTING AND WARNING SYSTEM IN DUMANGAS,
ILOILO”.

27. The improvement in warning systems and better preparedness has resulted in the reduction
of casualties due to flooding.
- The passage of Typhoon Fengshen (locally known as Frank) in June 2008 saw the death of
hundreds of people and damage to infrastructure and agriculture in the island of Panay. In
the municipality of Dumangas, Iloilo (a CBFEWS site), there was no reported casualty and
was even able to send emergency team to assist their neighboring towns in the rescue
operation.
- In August 2009, the province of Zambales was devastated by flooding due to passage of a
Typhoon Kiko but no casualties were recorded. This was mainly attributed to the
community based flood early warning system (CBFEWS) in place.
- On 16 Dec 2011, Surigao del Sur recorded 2
casualties compared to Cagayan de Oro and Iligan
City (more than 1,000) due to the passage of TS
Washi. In 2005, CBFEWS was established under the
UNDP Ready project. People in the area still
remember the lessons during the flood drills
conducted. LGUs immediately convened the local
DRRMC in anticipation of storm Washi.
Cagayan de Oro
Surigao de Sur

28. During the Revisit of
Ready Team on 6016
May 2008: Success
stories were noted in
the municipalities of
Hinatuan,
Barobo
&Tagbina in SDS, in Libjo
for Dinagat Island & in
Mainit & Surigao City.
Observed data were used to forewarn the threatened communities,
i.e. before the landslide that occurred in Surigao City in Feb 2008 and
in Hinatuan river basin.

29. 1. Operation and Maintenance
- responsibility of the concerned LGUs. CBFEWS should be
included in the planning process of the LGUs.
2. Institutional stability of CBFEWS
- DOC should be an integral part of the institutional set-up of the
LGUs.
- Some DRRMCs are organized but not functional.
- The tenure of the LCEs (3 years) is often the major constraint in
the sustanability of the CBFEWS.
3. Differences in political affiliation, priorities and agenda
- can often negate the benefits of undertaking a communitybased system
- river basins encompasses so many barangay, municipalities.
Importance of data/information sharing is encourage.

30. 4. Sustainability
- The passage of an Ordinance is the most effective mechanism
that will ensure the sustaiinability of CBFEWS as this will go
beyond the tenure of the local officials.
5. Acceptability of CBFEWS
- often those who have experienced a major disaster are more
appreciative of CBFEWS. The increasing trend in
hydrometeorological hazards, such as flood, contributed to the
shift on disaster preparedness and prevention/mitigation, instead
of the usual disaster response, recovery and rehabilitation.

31. 6. Institutionalization of Partnership among Stakeholders
- CBFEWS often involves several stakeholders such as technical
agencies from the national agencies, LGUs, private sector,
academe, NGO and even the media. It is important that the
various stakeholders convene on a regular basis to discuss the
issues and concerns of the CBFEWS, including the limitations and
possible improvements of the system.
7. Role of Volunteers and Schools
- The basic activities of CBFEWS is observation of RR and WL by
the observers designated by the LGUs. School children are also
tapped as volunteer observers who are often supervised by their
teachers. These kind of observations boost the observation
network.

32. 1. Hazard maps – how can this be appreciated by people who are
color blind? Or the warning siren by people with hearing
impairment?
2. Laymanizing technical terms – translating scientific
knowledge/information into something that the community
could understand and would comple them to take appropriate
actions.
3. Fast turn-over of leadership at the community level

33. Thank you for your
kind attention
http://kidlat.pagasa.dost.gov.ph/annualreport/annualreport2010.pdf