MANILA – The University of the Philippines’ Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) is set to receive a P1 billion allocation in the 2026 national budget, a significant increase aimed at enhancing flood control planning and disaster risk reduction across the country. The funding, approved during ongoing bicameral conference committee deliberations on the General Appropriations Bill on December 14, 2025, will support advanced mapping, early warning systems, and collaborative initiatives with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to mitigate devastating floods.
The boost comes amid heightened scrutiny of flood management following the P20-billion scandal involving ghost projects and substandard dikes, which left communities vulnerable to typhoons like Uwan. Project NOAH, revived under the Marcos administration after its 2017 defunding, has been instrumental in providing real-time hazard data, including flood maps and storm surge models.
UP President Angelo Jimenez hailed the allocation as “vital for evidence-based planning,” noting it will fund:
- High-resolution LiDAR mapping for flood-prone areas.
- Upgraded early warning platforms integrated with local governments.
- Research on climate-resilient infrastructure.
The P1 billion line item, proposed by the Senate and retained in bicam talks, underscores a shift toward science-driven solutions. “This isn’t just funding—it’s foresight,” said Sen. Sherwin Gatchalian, finance committee chair. It aligns with broader calls for transparency in infrastructure spending, with Project NOAH’s data poised to guide DPWH’s P598-billion 2026 budget.
For a nation battered by annual deluges claiming lives and billions in damages, this investment in NOAH isn’t expenditure—it’s empowerment, turning predictive tech into preventive triumphs.
Funding Snapshot:
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Allocation | P1 billion (2026 budget) |
| Recipient | Project NOAH, University of the Philippines |
| Key Uses | LiDAR mapping, early warnings, DPWH collaboration |
| Context | Post-flood scandal resilience push |