THE city government of Manila will roll out early-warning devices and weather equipment to prepare for the projected “biggest El Niño” in November.
Manila City Mayor Isko Moreno announced the rollout on Wednesday at City Hall, where he revealed that three all-hazard sirens and six automated weather stations will be deployed to enhance disaster preparedness and mitigate the potential impacts of extreme weather conditions on the city’s residents.
Moreno added that the equipment will be deployed first along the city's coastal areas, particularly in Districts 1, 3 and 5.
The mayor noted that the deployment comes after he read a study predicting the biggest El Niño will likely occur in November.
"There is already a study of the biggest deluge that is going to happen in November. Based on historical facts, that is true,” Moreno said.
"Then after installing this, we will conduct training and public information dissemination on what kind of sounds and what the purpose of the sounds are and what they need to do,” Moreno added, noting that the Manila City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Department (DRRMD) will spearhead the training.
Christian John Evangelista, from the Manila DRRM Department, told The Manila Times that the all-hazard sirens are designed to provide early warnings for a wide range of emergencies, including floods, fires, typhoons and even wartime scenarios.
"These can be activated remotely, even from the mayor’s office, and can also be used for public announcements during drills or actual emergencies. In worst-case scenarios, since this is wireless and relies on radio frequency, there’s also a manual option to ensure functionality,” he said in Filipino.
He said two of the sirens will be placed at Manila City Hall and one at the Baseco Evacuation Center.
Meanwhile, the automated weather stations are equipped with advanced sensors to monitor various weather parameters.
“They help us monitor conditions like rainfall and wind speed, which are essential for forecasting and preparing for potential disasters,” he explained.
"If we can inform the general population ahead of time, maybe we may save more lives,” said Moreno, stressing the importance of informing the public before disaster strikes.
