After witnessing the massive impact of past typhoons that led to billions in damages, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) has implemented an upgraded flood forecasting and warning system to protect communities in Northern Mindanao.
The Cagayan de Oro River Basin Flood Forecasting and Warning System (CDORBFFWS) is a state-of-the-art network that boosts the region’s disaster preparedness by improving early warning capabilities in Molugan, El Salvador City, and Cagayan de Oro City, Misamis Oriental.
“With two X-Band radar stations, 13 telemetered rainfall and water level monitoring stations, and a dedicated data transmission network, we are strengthening our ability to provide timely and accurate flood advisories,” DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. said in a statement.
Strategically placed across upstream and downstream areas of the river basin, the DOST said the new monitoring stations are designed to provide real-time, reliable flood data.
These will help hydrologists issue more precise and timely flood bulletins and warnings to at-risk communities, it added.
Data from the stations are sent to DOST-PAGASA’s Mindanao Regional Services Division in El Salvador City, the Cagayan de Oro City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, and the agency’s main office in Quezon City.
Solidum stressed that such efforts are key to building a more resilient Philippines.
“We are not powerless against disasters when we have the right knowledge, the right tools, and the right behavior to act at the right time,” he said.
As such, the DOST chief noted that disaster resilience should not just mean surviving natural calamities but thriving despite them.
“We must redefine disaster resilience—not just as enduring hardship, but as building economic strength and prosperity in the face of adversity. Our story is no longer one of victims—but victors over disasters,” Solidum stated.
According to the DOST, the new flood warning system was developed with support from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in partnership with local government units and various government agencies.
DOST-PAGASA Administrator Dr. Nathaniel Servando highlighted the significance of the project by recalling Typhoon Sendong, which struck Northern Mindanao nearly 14 years ago, leaving a trail of destruction in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan City.
He said the tragic event underscored the urgent need for a robust and systematic network of flood monitoring tools, eventually leading to the realization of CDORBFFWS.
For his part, Japanese Ambassador Endo Kazuya reaffirmed Japan’s support for disaster preparedness in the Philippines.
“Disaster risk reduction remains a key area of cooperation between our countries, as well as the development of Mindanao,” he said.
He also emphasized Japan’s goal to become a global leader in disaster prevention and its continued commitment to sharing its technology and expertise.
Solidum also underscored the broader economic benefits of disaster preparedness.
“We must recognize that disaster preparedness is not just about risk reduction—it is about wealth protection and creation. This is not just about saving lives, it is about protecting businesses, helping farmers plan their crops, and ensuring that our tourism industry remains strong,” he said.
“Investing in disaster resilience is an investment in economic stability and national progress.”
The need for such systems is reinforced by the findings of the 2025 Climate Risk Index by Germanwatch, which ranks the Philippines among the top ten countries most affected by extreme weather events over the last 30 years.
Disasters like Typhoons Ondoy, Pablo, Yolanda, Ompong, and Sendong have caused immense damage, with Yolanda alone claiming over 7,000 lives, destroying 1.1 million homes, and resulting in $13 billion in losses.