By KIMBERLIE NGABIT-QUITASOL
www.nordis.net

BAGUIO CITY—The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Cordillera hopes to install water level and landslide sensors in identified areas in the region for a more efficient early warning systems to minimize disasters brought about by heavy rains and typhoons.

During the weekly kapihan here, DOST Science and Technology Specialist Angel Maguen said they are just waiting for the water level sensors to dispatched from the head office for installation.

He said they have identified at least 13 areas all over the region for the installation of the water level sensor.

He added that the water level sensors would measure the rise of water in the rivers that will enable them to issue alerts to down stream communities who might be flooded.

Maguen further said the landslide sensors are still under development.

In the same manner he added that the landslide sensor would help in giving out early warning for possible landslides. He explained that there are two landslide sensor prototypes under study, one is installed at Little Kibungan, La Trinidad and Sayangan, Atok. He said the areas are identified as landslide prone.

It can be recalled that there was a massive slide in Little Kibungan during the onslaught of Typhoon Pepeng in 2009 that claimed over nearly a hundred lives.

He added that the DOST tapped the assistance of engineering students of the University of the Philippines for the said project. # nordis.net