×

In a ceremony held at the Weather and Flood Forecasting Center of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) in Quezon City last Wednesday, DOST-PAGASA inaugurated the Communication, Ocean and Meteorological Satellite (COMS) Data Analysis System in partnership with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA).

The system will receive and analyze data from COMS, the first geostationary multi-purpose satellite of Korea, which was launched in space in 2010. Stationed 36,000 kilometers above the Earth’s equator, the satellite performs meteorological mission, ocean observations, and communications services. It can generate sixteen types of analysis data for weather forecasting and numerical prediction.

The COMS Satellite Receiving System is installed at the PAGASA Center in Quezon City and its four regional offices in Tuguegarao, Legazpi, Lapu-Lapu and El Salvador City.

In his message during the ceremony, PAGASA Administrator Dr. Vicente Malano expressed his appreciation to KOICA for its assistance in the project that will benefit Filipinos. “This multi-million project, made possible through the Korean government’s grant aid and technical cooperation program, is guaranteed to help strengthen PAGASA’s capacity to receive and analyze meteorological satellite data and thereby enhancing weather monitoring and improving weather forecast accuracy.”

photos from DOST-PAGASA Facebook
Meanwhile, KOICA Philippine Coordinator Myun Seop Shing conveyed his hopes for the project’s success. “The Philippines has long been vulnerable to extreme weather conditions and is one of the countries greatly affected by climate change… It is my sincere hope that this project will be a best practice among all our partnership projects which play an important role in achieving the Philippine Development Plan and also will strengthen the friendship and cooperative relations of the two countries.”