8 August 2025 | MIMAROPA Region—In a concerted effort to strengthen disaster preparedness across the region, the Department of Social Welfare and Development Field Office MIMAROPA (DSWD FO MIMAROPA), through the KALAHI-CIDSS program and in partnership with the Disaster Response Management Division (DRMD), hosted an online training session titled “Efficient Navigation and Optimization of the Project NOAH Website.”

The session focused on equipping participants with the skills to efficiently use the Nationwide Operational Assessments of Hazards (NOAH) website—a vital online platform developed by the University of the Philippines (UP) Resilience Institute. 

The NOAH website serves as a central hub for real-time data on weather conditions, flood forecasts, landslide risks, and other natural hazards, helping communities and local governments better prepare for and respond to disasters.

Leading the discussion was Dr. Alfredo Mahar Francisco A. Lagmay, a leading expert in disaster science and executive director of the UP Resilience Institute. 

Dr. Lagmay, who played a pivotal role in the development of the NOAH platform, emphasized the importance of ensuring that hazard information is not only accurate but also easily accessible, especially during emergencies.

“The goal is to make critical information—such as disaster warnings, evacuation routes, and risk maps—available in a few clicks,” Dr. Lagmay said. “We want the website to be intuitive enough so that even ordinary citizens, not just technical experts or LGUs, can use it to make informed decisions.”

Moreover, DSWD Field Office MIMAROPA Regional Director Leonardo C. Reynoso, CESO III said, “Our desire is for our partner LGU to fully understand what Project Noah is and be able to utilize all its available features for the benefit of individuals, families, and communities.”

The training highlighted recent enhancements to the NOAH website, including improved map integration, refined search tools, and mobile-friendly features to support on-the-go access. 

These updates aim to ensure that the platform remains a reliable and user-friendly tool for frontline disaster response.

With the growing threat of climate change and extreme weather events, initiatives like this underscore the importance of collaboration between government agencies, scientists, and communities in building a more resilient Philippines.