Manila: The new PHP1 billion budget for Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) will help fund efforts to uncover more undocumented waterways in the country, supporting flood prevention during severe weather events.
According to Philippines News Agency, the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute (UPRI) emphasized that identifying buried, altered, or diverted drainage paths can guide local governments not only in urban planning and drainage development but also in effective emergency response. In a press conference on Project NOAH's PHP1 billion utilization plan, UPRI Executive Director Mahar Lagmay explained that most areas suffering from localized flooding are often situated near or on top of water pathways.
Lagmay noted that floods occur only in specific places and highlighted that a significant portion of the land area in the Philippines remains safe from floods. He further explained that flooding typically affects areas beside creeks, low-lying areas, and streams that normally remain dry but become flooded during the rainy season.
Before the additional funding, the UPRI YouthMappers had already identified hundreds of hidden waterways in Quezon City. Lagmay pointed out that checking and restoring these critical channels are essential to maintaining proper surface runoff and preventing localized flooding during heavy rains.
Aside from locating undocumented waterways, the UPRI stated that the PHP1 billion funding will help generate high-resolution maps of major river basins in the country; support the Oplan Kontra Baha; and identify nature-based solutions to prevent disasters. The budget utilization areas will also cover simulating major detention basins; conducting LiDAR drone surveys with state colleges and universities; and using artificial intelligence for disaster management.
Lagmay emphasized the importance of maximizing the use of science to be more effective in investments, hoping for sustained funding beyond this year. He stressed the need for evidence-based approaches, stating that spending should not be based on mere estimates but should rely on scientific evidence.
