By Edd K. Usman
Like other government research projects, Project Noah (National Operational Assessment of Hazards) has a beginning and an end. And barring another extension, it will end in February 2017.
This is part of the response of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) to the current issue on Project Noah’s supposed “lack of funds.”
DOST secretary Fortunato dela Pe?a issued a statement on Monday, Jan. 30, recalling that Project Noah “started in 2011 and most component projects were completed in 2015.”
“It was extended in 2016 to cover additional targets and deliverables,” the DOST chief said, citing the success of the program. Project Noah, Dela Pe?a emphasized, “has delivered very useful technologies as part of its research outcomes and these technologies have been put to use.”
In a separate interview, Dela Pena left the door open for another extension of the project, but pointed out that if this happens, it should fall under Pagasa (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration).
“So, our plan, actually, is to have a transition project that Pagasa will be the one to manage so they can learn the technologies (in Project Noah) and use them,” he told Newsbytes.PH.
“And that will also give an opportunity for some of the researchers of Project Noah to be involved in that transition project and, ultimately, perhaps, they would apply with the plantilla positions in Pagasa’s new organizational structure.”
He added: “I am reiterating that there is end to research projects. In this particular case, the project was given to the University of the Philippines (UP) for the implementation of the research. It has delivered what it has committed to deliver and they are useful and we should now use them in our regular operation,” said Dela Pe?a.
Former DOST secretary Mario Go Montejo led the creation of Project Noah upon direct orders from former President Benigno Aquino III in the aftermath of the devastation and deaths brought about by Typhoon Sendong’s flood in Northern Mindanao in December 2011.
Aquino and Montejo wanted a disaster prevention and mitigation program that can deliver a real-time flood warning system to warn communities and residents six hours before it strikes.
Led by UP professor Dr. Alfredo ?Mahar? Lagmay as executive director, Project Noah has several components such as the Dream-Lidar 3D Mapping, Doppler System Development; Landslide Sensors Development; Storm Surge Inundation Mapping; and Weather Information Integration for System Enhancement (WISE).
On July 6, 2012, Aquino and Montejo formally launched Project Noah at the banks of flood-prone Marikina River in Marikina City, Metro Manila. Since then, Project Noah, in collaboration with other government agencies, had created high-resolution 3D flood hazard maps for the Philippines’ 18 major river basins.
Similar high-resolution flood hazard maps are also being produced for the minor rivers across the country. Project Noah also brought honors to the Philippines with its international and regional awards presented by prestigious organizations.
Last week, Lagmay, who won international awards as disaster scientist of Project Noah, fired off a series of messages on micro-blogging site Twitter, about the project’s impending end. He said Project Noah will end next month on February 28, as he slammed unnamed government officials for trying to shut down the project.
“Two years ago ay pinapatay na po kami by some officials of government (Two years ago, were are already being shut down by some government officials. Long before (President) Duterte’s term,” Lagmay tweeted.
“Iyong dating pumapatay ay sila pa rin iyon (Those who were trying to shut us down are the some ones today),” he added on Twitter.
In the DOST statement, Dela Pe?a pointed out that Project Noah’s extension was given until February 2017, with one of the conditions being “the transfer of the technologies for use in operations in the government agencies who have the relevant mandate.”
For Project Noah, he said “Pagasa is the principal government agency that would take over the operations aspect of the delivered outputs/technologies.”
The DOST chief said the approval of Pagasa’s Modernization Law proved timely. “Details of the turnover were discussed among DOST officials, Pagasa officials and Dr. Lagmay in 2016,” Dela Pe?a said.
He explained that the statement concerning “no funds? is for the current project, which really has a end date.”
Lagmay expressed hope in one of his Tweets that President Duterte can do something if he hears the people’s appeal.” “We have to take care of our scientists,” he pleaded, saying human resource is more important than technology.
