PAGASA opens weather station, breaks ground on Doppler radar in Digos City
A PHP10-million synoptic station is now running in Barangay Igpit, while a PHP250-million S-band Doppler radar is targeted for full operation by 2029, according to Edge Davao.
The Department of Science and Technology's weather agency, DOST-PAGASA, has opened a new synoptic weather station and broken ground on a Doppler weather radar station in Barangay Igpit, Digos City, Davao del Sur, according to Edge Davao.
The facilities were launched on October 14 as part of the 2026 Handa Pilipinas Mindanao Leg. The synoptic station, which cost about PHP10 million, continuously records surface weather data such as temperature, rainfall, humidity, atmospheric pressure and wind speed. PAGASA Administrator Nathaniel T. Servando said the station will allow a more complete local record of rainfall and temperature as the country deals with the effects of El Niño, and that its observations will feed into national forecasts.
The S-band Doppler radar will be built on a 3,000-square-meter lot within the PAGASA station and is expected to be fully operational by 2029. The PHP250-million project is funded through the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. The radar can track rainfall intensity, thunderstorms, rain-bearing clouds and the formation of low-level tropical cyclones and the Intertropical Convergence Zone in real time. Servando said it will "help improve the timeliness and precision of warnings for Davao del Sur and surrounding areas."
DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. said the expanded network will support impact-based forecasting, which explains the likely effects of a weather event and recommends actions. Digos City Councilor Liza M. Cagas, speaking for Mayor Josef F. Cagas, said the projects would help disaster preparedness, emergency response and agricultural planning in a province known for banana, coconut, rice and coffee.
DOST officials also visited a PHIVOLCS strong-motion monitoring station at Davao del Sur State College (DSSC) in Digos City. The instrument measures the intensity of ground shaking, data that engineers use to design earthquake-resistant structures, and also helps in quickly detecting strong earthquakes that may generate tsunamis. DSSC provided the site and power, while PHIVOLCS supplied the equipment and technical expertise.
PHIVOLCS Director Teresito A. Bacolcol said the agency runs about 130 seismic stations nationwide, with another 300 planned over the next five years.
Why it matters for Davao
The Doppler radar is expected to strengthen weather monitoring across Davao del Sur and neighboring provinces, which could mean more timely warnings of storms and heavy rain for communities in the region.
This article was written by the DavaoNews desk with AI assistance, using reporting by Edge Davao. Facts come from the original report, which we credit and link below. Our editorial policy
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