The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) installed two new remote monitoring stations on Mt. Hibok-Hibok in Camiguin to provide timely and quality information to the public.
“These remote stations are autonomous, solar-powered, and transmit real-time data via radio telemetry to Hibok-hibok Volcano Observatory (HVO) in Quiboro, Mambajao, Camiguin,” Phivolcs said.
The Mahinoy Observation Station, or VHMA, which is on the mid-southeastern slopes of Mt. Mambajao, was commissioned on Nov. 11.
Meanwhile, the Guinsiliban Observation Station or VHGU on the slopes of Guinsiliban Peak in Barangay Butay was unveiled on Nov. 14.
“Both stations are equipped with state-of-the-art Kinemetrics broadband seismic sensors and digital recorders and transmit seismic data to HVO via its network of Spread-Spectrum Transceiver radios,” Phivolcs said.
Nine observation stations now comprise the Hibok-Hibok Volcano Network that will monitor the earthquake activity of the volcano and the tectonic earthquake activity in Central Visayas and Northern Mindanao.
Mt. Hibok-Hibok is currently at Alert Level 0, which means it is “quiet” and that there is “no eruption in the foreseeable future.”
“VHMA and VHGU remote stations count amongst DOST-Phivolcs’ (Department of Science and Technology-Phivolcs) latest contributions, in partnership with the local government units of the Province of Camiguin, for achieving the common mission of providing timely, quality, and socially inclusive information and services for warning, disaster preparedness, and mitigation,” Phivolcs said.