DOST-PAGASA breaks ground on Doppler radar station in Bataan

The Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST-PAGASA) and Bataan Peninsula State University (BPSU) held a groundbreaking ceremony on 27 October 2026 for the Bataan Abucay Doppler Weather Radar Station in Abucay, Bataan.

The facility will house an S-band magnetron-type dual-polarization Doppler weather radar. This technology is specifically chosen for tropical environments because its longer wavelength prevents heavy rain from drowning out signals. The station is designed to close localized monitoring gaps by tracking convective storms, microscale rainbands, precipitation volume, wind velocity, and storm tracks across Bataan and Western Luzon.

DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. emphasized the shift toward impact-based forecasting. This approach aims to provide local leaders and families with information regarding the potential consequences of weather events on infrastructure, crops, and small businesses, allowing for more effective preventive action.