PAGASA awards NGO working on localized weather forecasting

This is a press release from PAGASA:

MANILA, Philippines – Hazel Tanchuling, Coordinator of non-government organization Rice Watch and Action Network (R1), is one of the awardees in the Wind Vane Award to be given by PAGASA today on the occasion of its 150^th Anniversary. 

“R1 is proud of the award given to our colleague, affirming the value of our work in the communities – for whom the efforts to capacitate LGUs on providing climate information services to their constituents – we are committed to pursue,” said Aurora Regalado, R1 Lead Convenor.

R1 has been working with PAGASA since 2011 installing early warning system with the help of local government units to help people gain access to climate information.

“Being partners of PAGASA for several years, we are grateful to them for giving value to our pioneering work in the communities and we are happy to contribute relevance to PAGASA’s climate information products,”Regalado said. 

The Wind Vane Awards is given to those who, in one way or another, have been instrumental in advancing vital PAGASA services and government’s hazard mitigation program for overall national socio-economic development.  

“The demand from LGUs is growing. We have to step up to the challenge of meeting the increasing request of communities to also have access to climate information and be able utilize these information in their everyday lives,” she said.

Regalado added: “We hope to continue working together to continue to unpack the climate information into understandable, usable information to farmers, fishers, rural women and other sectors in the community.” – Rappler.com