An earthquake intensity meter will soon be installed in the premises of the Provincial Capitol building.

This developed after the Pangasinan Provincial Board in its online session on April 4, approved a resolution that authorized Governor Amado I. Espino III to enter and sign a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Department of Science and Technology- Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS) for the installation of the earthquake intensity meter.

As stated in the resolution which was authored by Sangguniang Panlalawigan Member Jerome Vic O. Espino, the DOST-PHIVOLCS intends to place earthquake intensity meters to be strategically located in key areas of the province to monitor and acquire precise and faster readings of tremors.

“Nine (9) units of earthquake intensity meters will be located in pre-selected areas of the province to include one in Lingayen, Pangasinan which is to be installed inside the premises of the Provincial Capitol Building,” the resolution said.

The resolution also said that “the earthquake intensity meter is composed of an accelerometer, an internet-based data transmission system and an uninterruptible power supply which can numerically evaluate the severity of earthquake-related ground shaking in the area of around the seismic sensor on near real-time basis.”

Hence, the resolution stressed that the installation of the earthquake intensity meter in the province will greatly contribute to the advancement of DOST-PHIVOLCS earthquake monitoring capability.

“The Sangguniang Panlalawigan fully supports the project of DOST-PHIVOLCS as a tool for seismologists to issue faster landslide and tsunami alerts, and save lives and properties in the event of a strong earthquake,” the resolution noted.

DOST-PHIVOLCS will be represented by Undersecretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr. in the MOA signing.

/Ruby R. Bernardino