The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) has released P1 billion to the University of the Philippines (UP) System to expand Project NOAH’s use of artificial intelligence and other digital technologies for flood forecasting and disaster risk assessment.
The funding will support AI-enhanced modeling, real-time hazard monitoring, LiDAR mapping, data analytics, and other technologies intended to help national agencies and local governments anticipate floods and other hazards.
“Hindi natin kailangang hintayin na tumaas ang tubig bago tayo kumilos. The goal is to know where the danger is, who is at risk, and what needs to be done before disaster strikes,” DBM acting secretary Kim Robert C. De Leon said.
“This P1-billion investment in Project NOAH is an investment in prevention. We are putting science, AI, and real-time hazard information to work so government can act earlier, communities can prepare better, and more Filipino lives and livelihoods can be protected,” he added.
Of the P1-billion release, P935 million will go to research services, while P65 million will fund general management and supervision for Project NOAH. The amount will be charged against UP’s appropriation under the 2026 General Appropriations Act.
The DBM said the funding will cover the procurement and deployment of ICT, digital, technical, and scientific equipment, as well as the hiring of specialized technical personnel and establishment of operational support systems.
Project NOAH is implemented by the UP Resilience Institute (UPRI) and conducts research and development work on disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation, and hazard assessment.
Its technology platform uses AI-enhanced models, LiDAR-generated mapping, data analytics, and other tools to produce real-time hazard assessments and predictive flood scenarios that can be used by government agencies and local governments for disaster planning and emergency response.
The use of predictive models is aimed at allowing authorities to identify potentially affected areas before flooding occurs, rather than relying primarily on disaster response after communities have already been hit.
“The best disaster management is when we are able to prevent disasters from becoming a catastrophe. Every peso we invest in better forecasting and preparedness can help save lives, protect livelihoods, and avoid far greater losses later on,” De Leon said.
“We cannot stop typhoons or heavy rains from coming, but with the right information at the right time, we can reduce their impact. That is what we want public funds to deliver — not simply resources after a disaster, but greater protection before it happens,” he added.
The DBM has previously worked with UP NOAH to incorporate disaster risk reduction data into the Digital Information for Monitoring and Evaluation, or Project DIME, which uses digital technologies to monitor government-funded infrastructure projects.
The latest funding is intended to expand Project NOAH’s capacity to turn hazard and weather-related data into forecasts and information that authorities can use for early warnings, disaster preparedness, and infrastructure planning.
