President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the release of P1 billion to boost Project NOAH, the government’s disaster monitoring program aimed at giving communities more time to prepare for floods and other natural hazards.
Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Undersecretary and Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the President directed the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) to release the funds to the University of the Philippines (UP) System, which manages the project.
The money will be used to upgrade Project NOAH’s use of artificial intelligence (AI), real-time monitoring and flood forecasting. Of the total amount, P935 million will go to research services while P65 million will cover project management and administrative expenses.
The funding will also pay for equipment, technology and experts needed to improve the system.
Castro said the upgraded Project NOAH will use AI, LiDAR mapping and data analytics to provide real-time information on possible flooding and other hazards.
“Makakatulong din ang programa upang mas maagang makapaghanda at makakilos ang pamahalaan bago pa lumala ang sitwasyon,” Castro said.
She said the project is expected to help national government agencies and local governments act faster when disasters are approaching.
“Sa pamamagitan ng A-I enhanced modeling, LiDar mapping at data analytics, makapagbibigay ang project NOAH ng real-time na impormasyon at mga prediksyon tungkol sa posibleng pagbaha at iba pang sakuna,” Castro added.
Project NOAH was launched in 2012 to improve the country’s ability to monitor and prepare for natural disasters.IMT
