Senator Bam Aquino has made a strong appeal to the Philippine government to allocate substantial funding to Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) and provide robust support to the country's world-class Filipino scientists and experts.
Call for Scientific Approach to Disaster Management
As the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology and Vice Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, Senator Aquino emphasized that the time has come to fully support and continue Project NOAH along with the talented Filipino scientists behind it. The senator stressed that the government should immediately stop wasting billions of pesos in taxpayer money on ineffective flood control projects that have proven inadequate.
Aquino argued that the country needs modern technology, science, and a unified approach to protect lives, livelihoods, and properties, especially given the current challenges of climate change and shifting weather patterns affecting the Philippines. He highlighted the urgent need for a more scientific and data-driven method of addressing the nation's flooding problems.
Utilizing Local Expertise for National Solutions
"We should use our world-class Filipino scientists and other experts in flood prevention. They have much to contribute in resolving this problem," Aquino added during his statement. The senator believes that the country has been overlooking its own world-class talent while continuing to fund unclear and ineffective infrastructure projects.
According to Aquino, the government would benefit more from focusing on programs that have already been tested and proven effective, such as the previously established Project NOAH. He specifically pointed to the program's capability to identify flood-prone areas that should be prioritized in the allocation of flood control budgets.
"We should use Project Noah to identify which areas are truly flood-prone, and hopefully that's where the flood control budget should go," Aquino stated, emphasizing the need for data-driven budget allocation. His appeal comes at a crucial time when the Philippines faces increasing climate-related challenges and natural disasters.
Time for Strategic Investment in Science
The senator's call to action represents a significant push toward prioritizing evidence-based solutions over traditional approaches that have shown limited effectiveness. By championing Project NOAH and Filipino scientific expertise, Aquino aims to redirect national resources toward more sustainable and technologically advanced disaster management systems.
This move could potentially transform how the Philippines addresses its perennial flooding problems while simultaneously supporting local scientific talent and innovation. The emphasis on proven programs like Project NOAH underscores the importance of continuing successful initiatives rather than constantly reinventing solutions.
