Project NOAH Gets PHP 1 billion to use AI for disaster prediction
The Philippine government is putting serious money and technology to better predict the disasters that regularly put communities, roads and infrastructure at risk.
Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) is receiving PHP 1 billion in taxpayer money, which will be used to expand its research capabilities, acquire new scientific and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) equipment, hire specialized personnel, and develop AI-powered tools for hazard assessment.
The funding is part of the University of the Philippines’ allocation under the 2026 General Appropriations Act. Of the total amount, PHP 935 million will go toward research services, while PHP 65 million will cover program management and supervision under the UP Resilience Institute.
For motorists and commuters, better hazard forecasting could eventually mean more timely warnings about floods, landslides and other conditions that can make roads dangerous or impassable.
Department of Budget and Management Acting Secretary, Kim Robert De Leon, said the investment is intended to put predictive technology to work before disasters strike, rather than relying mainly on response and relief afterward.
This PHP 1 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.
The government also plans to use the project’s capabilities to assess flood mitigation projects before construction. The idea is to determine if a proposed infrastructure can actually provide the protection it is supposed to deliver before significant public funds are spent.
What is Project NOAH?
Project NOAH was launched by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in 2012 following a push from then-President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to improve the country’s disaster preparedness.
The program uses a combination of sensors, mapping, forecasting and other technologies to monitor hazards and provide information to government agencies and communities.
Its coverage includes threats such as flooding, landslides and storm surges, giving authorities data they can use when preparing for severe weather and other natural hazards.
The project is now managed by the University of the Philippines.
