By Alexandria Dennise San Juan

Jayson Bausa, 44, is one of 10 hydrologists of PAGASA’s Hydro-Meteorological Division. (Mark Balmores)

Nathaniel “Mang Tani” Cruz is now a household name due to his insightful, detailed, yet easy to understand on-air weather forecasts, especially during typhoon season.

People rely on him, and other competent weather forecasters from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration or (PAGASA) for the latest advisories on looming storms and typhoons.

Behind the scenes and TV cameras, however, are other members of the weather forecasting team with data that can save people and entire communities from  catastrophic flashfloods and  bodies of water breaching its banks.

Welcome to the world of hydrologists.

FORECAST EQUIPMENT – Photo shows some of the instruments used for weather forecasts and flood warnings at the PAGASA Science Garden in Quezon City. (Mark Balmores)

Job description

Jayson Bausa, 44, is one of 10 hydrologists of  PAGASA’s Hydro-Meteorological Division.

Jayson has been with the government weather bureau’s research division since 2005.

In 2007, a friend urged him to take a training course in hydrology and meteorology.

It has been seven years since Jayson became one of the 10 hydrologists in PAGASA’s Hydro-Meteorological Division.

Hydrologists in PAGASA have three major duties: To monitor the water level status of dams and river basin centers, to issue daily weather forecasts and possible flood advisories, and to update the dam status, general flood advisory, river basin forecast and hydro forecast.

In addition, government hydrologists also conduct field surveys for cross section data from major rivers in the country, and post-flood surveying and investigate the cause of the flood.

The team is currently doing hazard mapping in the whole country to identify what places are mostly affected by rain-induced flood.

Testing the waters

“You get to travel locally or internationally when visiting various rivers, or when attending trainings. Aside from having a stable job in the government, you have the idea what places can possibly be hit by flashfloods so you can inform and warn the public,” Jayson, a Mathematics major, shared.

On the field, hydrologists assess rivers in different regions and determine its  capacity to overflow, discharge speed during mormal and extreme weather, and  measuring the current which may trigger flashfloods.

Today, PAGASA hydrologists use two monitoring systems from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The equipment  are used by Jayson and his team to monitor river basin centers in Pampanga, Bicol region and Cagayan Valley.

 ‘Ondoy’ alert

Jayson recalled  that he was on duty when Tropical Storm Ondoy (international name, Ketsana) inundated  a large portion of  Metro Manila in 2009.

“That is the most memorable for me because we did not take our eyes off rivers which might overflow. We continuously monitored the Marikina River overnight and identified places which may be affected by flashfloods, so we can warn the public and for them to make precautionary measures.”

“It is satisfying for me when you have released advisories or warnings for a looming storm and possible flashfloods in a certain place.”

‘Para sa bayan’

While experienced hydrologists are in demand overseas, Jayson said that he has no plans of working abroad.

He said that should he eventually decide to leave the country, he first wants to see their division fully established.

“Para sa bayan muna,” he said.