PNOY launches nationwide hazard assessment project

President Benigno Aquino III sees no more “Bahala na si Batman” during the rainy days as he led the launching of Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) (http://noah.dost.gov.ph/) in Marikina City Friday.

 

In his speech, Aquino said Project NOAH aims to manage uncertainty during typhoons and rains and prevent loss of lives and property through the use of advanced technology to accurately predict rainfall and warn vulnerable communities.

 

“Ngayon po, hindi na palad ang panukat sa lakas ng ulan. Tiyak ang datos na makakalap natin sa ating rain gauges. Hindi na po tuhod, baywang, at ulo ang panukat natin sa lebel ng tubig-ulan; eksaktong sukat na ang hatid sa atin ng water level sensors,” he said.

 

“Hindi na rin po padadaanin sa hula ang lagay ng panahon at kung saan babagsak ang ulan; real time na datos at impormasyon na rin ang hatid sa atin ng Doppler radars,” he added.

 

Based on data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), he said at least 1.7 families were affected by the 500 flooding incidents recorded from 2000 to 2011. The damages were pegged at P160 billion.

 

“Malinaw po: ang pinsalang dulot ng baha sa buhay, bahay, at kabuhayan ng mga Pilipino ay hindi po biro,” Aquino said.

 

Because of this, he said his administration pushed for the modernization of weather equipment. He said the country now has 12 locally-assembled water level monitoring sensors from four in 2010 and 100 automated rain gauges, 86 of which have been deployed to different regions.

 

The Doppler radar stations in Baguio, Subic, Tagaytay, Virac, Mactan, and Hinatuan have also been operational since 2010 and he expects three more Doppler weather radars to be operational in Tampakan, Aparri, and Baler before 2012 ends.

 

With the launch of Project NOAH, the Department of Science and Technology aims to provide, within two years, high-resolution flood hazard maps and install 600 automated rain gauges and 400 water level measuring stations for 18 major river basins of the Philippines, namely:

 

 

The other river basins of the Philippines will follow soon after the work on the 18 major river basins is completed.

 

The hazard maps are produced with computer simulations that reflect flood-prone areas discernible at a local scale or community level. Such maps are necessary for localized emergency response, identification of evacuation and access routes, road closures during disaster events, siting of key rescue facilities and comprehensive land use planning.

 

The initial output of Project NOAH is focused on the Marikina WatershedThrough the use of advanced science and technology, NOAH aims to improve disaster management capacity of local governments and assure homeland security by reducing casualties and property loss from extreme hazard events.

 

NOAH's mission is to undertake disaster science research and development, advance the use of cutting edge technologies and recommend innovative information services in government's disaster prevention and mitigation efforts.

 

NOAH's immediate task is to integrate current disaster science research and development projects and initiate new efforts within the DOST to achieve this objective.

 

“Sa bibliya, si Noah ang bumuo ng arkong nagsilbing kanlungan laban sa sakuna. Ang Project NOAH naman po ang tugon ng ating panahon sa delubyong dulot ng pangamba at kapahamakan, at siyang magtitimon sa mga Pilipino sa direksyon ng kahandaan at kapanatagan. Ito po ang magsasagwan sa atin tungo sa kaligtasan,” Aquino said. — TJD, GMA News