Manila to use AI-powered drones to forecast flooding

The City of Manila has disclosed a plan to use AI-powered drones that could forecast where floods are about to hit the metro within hours.

In a "24 Oras" report on Thursday from Bernadette Reyes, Manila Mayor Isko Moreno and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon disclosed the plan while they inspected the drainage system in España Boulevard.

“We can project two hours before where the big floods will hit,” Moreno told the media in a mix of English and Filipino.

Moreno said this would allow communities to evacuate a few hours ahead of the flood.

Manila, particularly in the area surrounding España Boulevard, is notorious for flooding, with many of the residents growing up used to the rising waters. Many students and motorists are often stranded since the area connects to the University Belt.

During the inspection, the DPWH announced plans to create a detention basin in Earnshaw Street in Manila City to curb the incidents of flooding in the area. Dizon said the drainage system has not been upgraded since the 1950s.

“There have been smaller projects but the last upgrade has not really been done since post World War II,” Dizon told the media in Filipino.

Moreno said the city was a catch basin from the mountains in the east.

A detention basin will be constructed along Earnshaw Street to catch floodwater. A similar structure could be found in the Bonifacio Global City and some basketball courts in Quezon City.

The creation of a detention basin was initially planned beneath the University of Santo Tomas, however, there were concerns of the construction impacting the heritage sites at the school. — Jean Mangaluz/BAP, GMA News