DENR XI-CDD conducted AWLS Information Education Campaign at MPDO Kapalong

The Conservation and Development Division (CDD) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) XI launched a brief Information Education Campaign (IEC) at Kapalong Municipal Planning and Development Office (MPDO) on September 19, 2024. The visit aimed to inform the proposed beneficiary LGU within the Tagum-Libuganon River Basin (TLRB) about the Automated Water Level Station (AWLS) and its benefits. Once approved, the project will be installed at Jumbo Bridge, Kapalong.

The briefer highlighted the critical role of AWLS in monitoring water levels to enhance disaster preparedness and water resource management. DENR-CDD team, in person of Forester Faith Kerry P. Baquirquir – DMO II; Forester Joel Morales – DMISA, and; Forester Krsitelyn S. Tuyac - PSS, presented the features of the AWLS, explaining how real-time data can aid in mitigating flood risks and improving community resilience against climate change impacts. The roles and responsibilities of the DENR and the proposed partner agency were likewise presented.

The Automatic Water Level Station is a solar-powered setup equipped with ultrasonic sensors to measure the distance from the sensor to the water surface by timing the return of the ultrasonic pulse. The project is part of the network of watersheds in the Philippines for the database generation that will involve characterization of the physical, biological, and socio-economic components and identifying critical areas through vulnerability assessment and instrumentation.