Romualdez has high hopes for AI-powered weather forecasting system
At A Glance
- The partnership between the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Atmos, Inc. to build a new, AI-powered weather forecasting system shows President Marcos' commitment to respond to climate change, says Speaker Martin Romualdez.
House Speaker Martin Romualdez (Speaker’s office)
The partnership between the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Atmos, Inc. to build a new, AI-powered weather forecasting system shows President Marcos' commitment to respond to climate change.
Thus, said Speaker Martin Romualdez, leader of the 300-plus strong House of Representatives.
"This welcome initiative demonstrates President Marcos’ determination to address the evolving challenges of climate change through innovative solutions that empower our nation to adapt and thrive,” said Romualdez.
“It comes at a crucial time when the Philippines faces increasingly complex and unpredictable weather patterns. The AI-powered weather forecasting system will enhance our ability to predict and respond to weather-related events, ensuring the safety and well-being of our citizens,” added the Leyte 1st district congressman and Lakas-Christian Muslim Democrats (Lakas-CMD).
AI stands for artificial intelligence.
Romualdez noted that the Philippines is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change and is frequently beset by typhoons, floods, and droughts.
“By harnessing the power of AI in weather forecasting, we may be able to avert another tragedy such as the one wrought by supertyphoon 'Yolanda',” said Romualdez, was a survivor of Yolanda’s wrath.
The Atmo AI – enabled hardware-software system leverages deep learning for numerical weather prediction and is touted to have superior accuracy than the weather forecasts of the United States (US) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Romualdez said the innovative weather forecasting system can also enable farmers to make informed decisions about irrigation, fertilization, and pest control, leading to increased crop yields and improved overall agricultural productivity.
Accurate weather predictions would also prove invaluable to power generation and distribution utilities, enabling better management of energy resources, preventing disruptions and ensuring a stable power supply, according to the House leader.
He pointed out that precise weather forecasts can also enable proactive maintenance to reduce the risk of damage to roads, bridges and other critical infrastructure as well as help businesses in sectors like hospitality and outdoor recreation optimize their operations, contributing to overall economic growth.
“This ground-breaking agreement not only pushes the Philippines to the forefront of technological innovations but, more importantly, promises to create a positive impact on the lives of our people,” Romualdez said.