Reflection on SONA 2013

During the State of the Nation Address of President Noynoy Aquino, I have read the full transcript of his speech and identified two possible related topics to ICT, and how can these areas improve our quality of life?

            First is the area about Disaster Preparedness, which talks about the following:

- Multi-hazard mapping complete for 28 most vulnerable sites; Greater Metro Manila area to be completed in 2014

- 525 automated water-level monitoring stations and rain gauges set up under Project NOAH

- Cooperating with LGUs to relocate informal settlers

- Allocation of P6.2 billion to address flooding in Metro Manila (Construction of the Blumentritt Interceptor Catchment area)

- 9,377 houses for “Sendong” victims; 4,374 additional houses underway

- 53,106 houses for “Pablo” victims; 17,609 additional houses underway

- 19,400 families to be relocated from Metro Manila waterways

- Justice Secretary Leila de Lima to file cases against owners of structures who have closed or obstructed waterways

            I would like to highlight the area of the Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards), what is this Project NOAH?

Project NOAH is the Department of Science and Technology’s (DOST) response to the call of President Benigno S. Aquino III for a more accurate, integrated, and responsive disaster prevention and mitigation system, especially in high-risk areas throughout the Philippines.

The Project will harness technologies and management services for disaster risk reduction activities offered by the DOST through PAGASA, PHIVOLCS, and the DOST-Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI), in partnership with the UP National Institute of Geological Sciences and the UP College of Engineering.

The Project has the following components:

• Distribution of Hydrometeorological Devices in hard-hit areas in the Philippines (Hydromet). A total of 600 automated rain gauges (ARG) and 400 water level monitoring stations (WLMS) will be installed along the country’s 18 major river basins (RBs) by December 2013 to provide a better picture of the country’s surface water in relation to flooding.

• Disaster Risk Exposure Assessment for Mitigation – Light Detection and Ranging (DREAM-LIDAR) Project. The project, which is targeted to be completed by December 2013, aims to produce more accurate flood inundation and hazard maps in 3D for the country’s flood-prone and major river systems and watersheds.

• Enhancing Geohazards Mapping through LIDAR. The project, which is targeted to be completed by December 2014, shall use LIDAR technology and computer-assisted analyses to identify exact areas prone to landslides.

• Coastal Hazards and Storm Surge Assessment and Mitigation (CHASSAM).  CHASSAM, which is targeted to be completed by December 2014, will generate wave surge, wave refraction, and coastal circulation models to understand and recommend solutions for coastal erosion.

• Flood Information Network (FloodNET) Project. Targeted to be completed by December 2013 is a flood center that will provide timely and accurate information for flood early warning systems. The FloodNET  Project will come up with computer models for the critical RBs, automate the process of data gathering, modeling and information output, and release flood forecasts.

• Local Development of Doppler Radar Systems (LaDDeRS). LaDDeRS seeks to develop local capacity to design, fabricate, and operate sub-systems of Doppler radars for remotely sensing the dynamic parameters of sea surface such as wave, wind field, and surface current velocity.

• Landslide Sensors Development Project. This project is a low-cost, locally developed, sensor-based early monitoring and warning system for landslides, slope failures, and debris flow. As of May 2012, ten sensors have been installed in San Francisco, Surigao del Norte; Tago, Surigao del Sur; Tublay, Bugias, and Bokod in Benguet; Guihulngan City, Negros Occidental; St. Bernard, Southern Leyte;  and Tubungan, Iloilo. Additional sensors are expected to be deployed to not less than 50 sites by 2013.

• Weather Hazard Information Project (WHIP). WHIP involves the utilization of platforms such as television (DOSTv) and a web portal (http://noah.dost.gov.ph),  which display real-time satellite, Doppler radar, ARG, and WLMS data to empower LGUs and communities to prepare against extreme natural hazards. This is complemented by activities, such as: a) conducting of IEC (Information, Education, and Communication) activities; and b) the processing and packaging of relevant and up-to-date information for public use.

            Is is clearly stated about that Project NOAH can improve our quality of life very great, by simply supplying us information about a certain activity. Since we receive information ahead of time, and information nowadays is power, then we are one step ahead of our time.

            Second is the area about the infastracture, which the topics are listed below:

Infrastructure:

*  Ternate-Nasugbu Road

*  Aluling Bridge in Ilocos Sur

*  Laguindingan Airport

*  Inauguration of the Advanced Device and Materials Testing Laboratory to support the semi-conductor industry

*  Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project II to benefit 24,000 farmers

*  PPP airports: Laguindingan; Tacloban; Bicol International; New Bohol; Mactan; Puerto Princesa

*  NAIA rehabilitation underway

*  Integrated Transport System Terminals in Parañaque, Muntinlupa, Quezon City 

*  NLEx-SLEx Connector Road project

Now I want to focus about the Inauguration of the Advanced Device and Materials Testing Laboratory to support the semi-conductor industry, this industry is really related to ICT, very much.

“Ilang dekada ring naghintay ang industriya ng semiconductors na magkaroon ng laboratoryong kayang makipagsabayan sa pasilidad ng ibang bansa. Hindi na po natin pinahaba ang kanilang paghihintay. Nitong nakaraang Mayo, sa pangunguna ng DOST, pinasinayaan natin ang Advanced Device and Materials Testing Laboratory. Dati, kailangan pang ipadala ang mga produkto sa ibang bansa para suriin. Hindi natin nasasagad ang kita; hindi rin nasasagad ang potensyal ng industriya na manghikayat ng puhunan. Dahil po sa pasilidad na ito na tinaguriang ADMATEL, ngayon, dito na susuriin ang mga produkto, at masusulit ang mga bentahe ng manggagawang Pilipino sa larangan ng electronics. Inaasahan nga po nating lalo pang lalakas ang industriyang nag-ambag ng halos 44 percent ng ating exports noong 2012.”

Semiconductor industry will be a great part for ICT in the Philippines because it is an essential part of every gadget, it will greatly improve the quality of life of the Filipinos because of its demand and can create more job opportunities for Filipinos.

References:

http://www.gov.ph/about-project-noah/

http://www.inquirer.net/sona-2013/article?nav_pid=450935

http://sona2013aquino.blogspot.com/p/tagalog-transcript-sona-2013-4th-state.html