How modern tech aids Philippines disaster preparedness

MANILA, Philippines — Modern technology is increasingly aiding disaster preparedness in the Philippines, with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) advancing artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies to help save lives even before disasters strike.

AI is powering the government’s central monitoring platform, the Handa Integrated Platform for Preparedness and Response, which was launched in March to provide information on disaster preparedness across different hazards.

“It’s like the ChatGPT of disaster preparedness,” Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) director Teresito Bacolcol said at the Cagayan Valley Regional Science, Technology and Innovation Week press conference.

“You can type in what the different active faults are in Region 2 or any part of the country, and it will provide you with answers,” he added.

Bacolcol said the Handa platform has “simplified the assessment of hazards.”

The public can access the platform at handa.georisk.gov.ph.

Anyone can submit an incident report, which will be verified by the Office of Civil Defense and local government units with accounts provided by PHIVOLCS.

AI is also being used to improve weather forecasting by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration.

“PAGASA’s data are so big, so we need to use AI to improve forecasts; our target is five days to 14 days,” DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. said. “The computing time to process the data would be every three hours. We are experimenting with the use of AI to shorten it to 15 minutes so that the forecasts are more up-to-date.”

PAGASA recently released its National Hydro-Met Observing Network, or PANaHON app, which provides near-real-time information from weather stations across the country.

DOST has also turned over a unit of the Mobile Command and Control Vehicle (MoCCoV) to the Tuguegarao local government.

The MoCCoV is a mobile command center that can be set up in remote areas in just 20 minutes.

It has three air-conditioned rooms that can serve as a command room, conference room, rescue or medical triage room, kitchen or independent bathroom.

It is also equipped with solar panels and a backup generator that can run for up to 32 hours.

In a speech to policymakers and disaster responders, Solidum said DOST is committed to investing in scientific research, hazard monitoring, early warning systems, geospatial technologies, impact-based forecasting and AI to allow the public to act with greater knowledge and lead time.

“But our responsibility at the DOST goes beyond producing information,” Solidum said. “Science must enter the decisions that shape people’s lives … Science and the information it provides must guide policies and influence investment.”

“The public expects information to move and decisions to be made. They expect resources to reach the people who need them. And they expect us to be ready before the emergency begins; that’s why convergence should produce a connected and operationally ready disaster risk reduction and management system,” he added.