Yolanda-Hit North Cebu Town Wants Project Noah to Continue

Mayor Jose Esgana of Santa Fe town in Bantayan Island in northern Cebu, one of the towns devastated by super typhoon Yolanda in 2013, has asked the National Government not to dissolve Project Noah, saying it is an effective disaster mitigating tool.

His appeal was also supported by former mayor Ricardo Ramirez in the northern town of Medellin, Cebu.

They said Project Noah’s mobile application helped them a lot in mapping out preparations for typhoon Yolanda more than three years ago.

Project Noah or Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards was created during the time of former President Benigno Aquino III.

Esgana said Project Noah allowed the Santa Fe Municipal Government to immediately come up with evacuation and pre-typhoon preparations for Yolanda.

Both officials reacted to reports that the DOST-Project Noah will to be stopped starting this month.

But the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) clarified that Project Noah will continue but will now be handled by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

DOST Secretary Fortunato Dela Peña, in a statement posted on the agency’s official website, said the details of the project’s turnover were discussed among Pagasa officials and Dr. Mahar Lagmay, Project Noah executive director.

He also denied reports that DOST is closing down Project Noah due to lack of funds.

Dela Peña said like all research projects they have undertaken, Project Noah has a start and end date.

Project Noah was launched in 2011, and most of its components were completed in 2015.

The project was extended toward 2016 to cover additional targets and projects.

Another extension was made just before it will be transferred under Pagasa this month. (PNA)FPV/EB/EBP