Philippines uses tech to improve disaster response
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in the Philippines is deploying artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies to strengthen disaster preparedness across the country.
DOST launched the Handa Integrated Platform for Preparedness and Response in March, a system that uses AI to answer questions about geological hazards like active faults in specific regions. People can also submit incident reports through the platform, which are then verified by the Office of Civil Defense and local governments.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) is also using AI to speed up weather forecasting. PAGASA aims to improve forecasts to cover five to 14 days, and is working to reduce data processing time from three hours to 15 minutes with the help of AI. They recently released the PANaHON app, providing real-time weather data from stations nationwide. Beyond digital tools, DOST provided the Tuguegarao local government with a Mobile Command and Control Vehicle (MoCCoV).
This mobile center can be set up in under 20 minutes and includes adaptable rooms for command, medical triage, or other needs, along with a 32-hour power supply from solar panels and a generator. DOST plans to continue investing in research, monitoring, and early warning systems to better prepare communities for disasters.
