DOST: Philippines disaster response should be proactive

MANILA, Philippines — Access to clear and understandable information is key to shifting disaster response in the Philippines from reactive to proactive, according to Science Secretary Renato Solidum Jr.

The Department of Science and Technology chief voiced his position at the 2025 Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction in Geneva, Switzerland, which runs until today.

He shared with conference participants science-based initiatives on how the disaster-prone Philippines is bracing for natural hazards.

One pivotal element for effective disaster preparation is the availability of relevant information not only to local government units but also to people themselves, Solidum stressed.

“Our goal is a Philippines where every community, city, town and province has easy access to clear and understandable hazard and risk information, and this data should be available, accessible and actionable for all Filipinos,” he said at a plenary session on Tuesday.

“The Philippines champions information as a basic right and need – accessible and practical scientific information is the cornerstone of the resilient first line of defense,” he stressed.

The DOST secretary presented two innovations that achieve these goals: GeoRiskPH and PlanSmart.

GeoRiskPH, or the Geospatial Information Management and Analysis Project for Hazards and Risk Assessment in the Philippines, utilizes a geospatial system to assess risks and plan for better resilience.

The project, developed in 2018 and spearheaded by the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology, is also useful for planning relocation efforts for affected individuals, moving them not only to housing programs but also providing livelihood opportunities for them to thrive.

Meanwhile, the PlanSmart Ready to Rebuild Web Application is a mobile application, launched in 2022 and used by over 350 local government units, that automatically generates rehabilitation and recovery plans through a pro-forma document template. The Geneva summit will run until Friday.