Aboitiz Equity Ventures : More than 800 weather stations help bring accurate and localized forecasts

Private weather information provider WeatherPhilippines Foundation, Inc. ended 2017 with significant improvements to the quantity and quality of its weather reports through the help of 826 automated weather stations (AWS) deployed nationwide. The Foundation intensified its 'Building a #WeatherWiser Nation' campaign by regularly issuing bulletins -- a total of 982 covering 16 typhoons in 2017 -- and providing weather trainings to close to 1,800 people. In line with efforts to improve its forecasting capability, the Foundation also shifted to a multi-model forecast from the previous Global Forecast System (GFS). For the July to December 2017 period, the accuracy of forecasts for a 24-hour rainfall period improved from 73% to 84%. As part of its weather awareness campaign, WeatherPhilippines also partnered with University of Asia & Pacific to support the latter's freshman National Service Training Program course syllabus by offering eight weather education sessions in June and September 2017. WeatherPhilippines was also active online in 2017, thanks to a newly-revamped website (weatherph.org) and an active Facebook page (facebook.com/weatherph.org) that reached six million users with an engagement rate of over 6%. A new version of their mobile application-which in 2017 was downloaded 6,164 times on Android and 6,417 on iOS devices-offered more accurate and detailed forecasts, new weather parameters, better location tagging, and a more user-friendly design. More companies have committed to support the Foundation's campaigns including Aboitiz business units Therma Marine, Inc., Davao Light & Power Co., Inc., and City Savings Bank, as well as Sem-Calaca Corporation and Source Telecommunications, Inc. 'The year 2017 has been very meaningful and productive, pushing WeatherPhilippines towards greater milestones. These achievements are proof that we can advance business and communities by helping build a #WeatherWiser nation,' said Dave Michael V. Valeriano, WeatherPhilippines General Manager.