Southern Negros Geothermal Production Field

The Energy Development Corp. (EDC)- Southern Negros Geothermal Production Field (SNGPF) is now coordinating with the local government units in Negros Oriental and concerned government agencies about the proper dissemination of rain gauge data.

Engr. Dwight Maxino, EDC vice president for Negros and concurrent resident manager of the Southern Negros Geothermal Production Field, the company focused attention on how to properly interpret rain gauge data that they have collected.

The EDC-SNGPF recently invited PAG-ASA Provincial chief Edsin Culi, provincial coordinator of the Provincial Disaster Risk reduction Management Council ( PDRRMC) Angelo Tiongson, Information Officer Adrian Sedillo, Valencia Mayor Enrique Gonzalez and some councilors and members of the media to an informal meeting regarding the interpretation of rainfall reading.

Maxino said the company has been disseminating the rain gauge data to the media and to the local government units but they were not aware how these agencies had been interpreting these. The most common warning that they can give is to inform the public that the Buayahan spillway is no longer passable, which would signal that a strong flood is coming.

The warning is given to areas that might be affected with possible flooding by the Okoy and Banica Rivers. The data has been disseminated and shared with the aim to alert the public on possible flooding.

At present, it is only EDC- SNGPF that has established a rain gauge data monitoring system in the mountains of Valencia, Negros Oriental since it is part of their area of responsibility.

Maxino admitted that although they have established the rain gauge, they do not have the proper training and capability of interpreting and analyzing these. They are just adopting their own measurements that would alert them when rainwater will reach a certain level that could already be cause for concern.

There are three automated rain gauges placed in different areas at the geothermal site in Valencia. The alarm is automatically set on a certain level during strong or heavy rain.

Provincial PAG-ASA Chief Culi said that there were different types of rains that could contribute to the data collection of the rain gauge.

He said they were willing to extend their help to the EDC–SNGPF personnel assigned to monitor the rain gauge meters in order to properly analyze and interpret data.