Taiwan and Philippines are firming up an agreement for the establishment of Doppler weather stations to determine the amount of rains that accompanied every storm to hit the country.

Roque L. Mamon, programs officer of the development cooperation of the Manila Economic and Cultural Officer in Taipei, said the National Science Council of Taiwan has already agreed to conduct the $1-million feasibility study to determine the viability of the location of this high-tech advance warning device.

“The study is going to start in May next year after which Taiwan has to decide in the establishment of the Doppler station,” Mamon said.

The impact of the rains packed by typhoon Ondoy, which caused massive flooding in the Metro Manila areas and nearby provinces, were not detected by the existing weather instruments in the country.

The establishment of the Doppler weather station in the Philippines is of great interest to Taiwan because any weather disturbance in the Philippines normally hits Taiwan also.

There are already 5 existing Doppler weather stations in the country under a technical cooperation agreement with the Japan International Cooperation Agency of Japan at an estimated cost P1.2 billion for two stations.

“Once the feasibility study has established the viability of the establishment of the Doppler station, Taiwan will most probably fund its establishment,” Mamon said.

Mamon said that Taiwan has indicated its preference to establish the Doppler weather stations in northern Luzon.

According to Mamon, part of the Taiwan’s request is getting real time data transmission from the Doppler station straight to its central government to warn them of the upcoming typhoon that is going to affect them.