February 10, 2026 — As climate-related disasters grow more frequent and intense, protecting vulnerable families requires faster decisions and smarter systems. In line with this goal, the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), through its Disaster Response Management Group (DRMG), visited the University of the Philippines Resilience Institute – Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards (UPRI-NOAH) to strengthen the use of digital technology, predictive analytics, and artificial intelligence (AI) in disaster response.
The engagement builds on the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed on February 2, 2026 (articles posted from the UP Website and from the DSWD Website), formalizing a strategic and system-level partnership between DSWD and UP. The agreement underscores a shared commitment to strengthening social protection mechanisms and disaster risk reduction and management (DRRM) initiatives through science-based, data-driven solutions.
Photos courtesy of DSWD DRM’s Facebook post
Turning Forecasts into Early Action
The meeting highlighted the importance of bridging hazard science with social protection systems. Discussions focused on the digitalization of existing response frameworks and maximizing AI-powered predictive analytics to enhance forecasting accuracy and streamline pre-emptive evacuation strategies.
Through the NOAH platform, UPRI continues to develop impact-based forecasting tools that integrate hazard data, exposure mapping, and risk modeling. By aligning these tools with DSWD’s operational systems, both institutions aim to enable faster decision-making, more targeted resource allocation, and anticipatory action that safeguards vulnerable communities before disasters escalate.
Science in the Service of People
Leading the DSWD delegation were DRMG Assistant Secretary Irene B. Dumlao, CESO II, and Disaster Response Management Bureau (DRMB) Director Maria Isabel B. Lanada, Ph.D., alongside members of the technical cluster. Representing UPRI were Executive Director Alfredo Mahar Lagmay, Ph.D., and RCW Division Director DJ Darwin Bandoy, DVM, Ph.D., who emphasized the role of interdisciplinary research and innovation in shaping proactive disaster governance.
Aligned with the directives of Secretary Rex Gatchalian, the dialogue reinforced DSWD’s goal of ensuring rapid, sustained, and rights-based disaster response. For UPRI, the collaboration represents a strategic opportunity to translate advanced hazard modeling, AI research, and systems innovation into operational tools that directly support national social protection programs. As UPRI-NOAH continues enhancing its digital platforms and research outputs, collaborations such as this affirm the Institute’s mission: harnessing science, technology, and innovation to protect lives, reduce losses, and build safer, more resilient communities across the Philippines.