DREAM reports progress, hands out LiDAR data

Less than two years after its launch, the Disaster Risk and Exposure Assessment for Mitigation (DREAM) Program has already readied processed Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data for over 80 municipalities. These were handed out in the Report to Stakeholders event held last October 17, 2013 at the National Engineering Center Audio-Visual Room.

Among the presented accomplishments of the Program were the completion of LiDAR data acquisition for 17 out of the 18 target major river systems and the generation of flood hazard maps for the areas of Compostella Valley, Cagayan de Oro, Iponan, Mandulog, Iligan, Davao Oriental, Pampanga, and Marikina.

Dr. Enrico C. Paringit, Program Leader, and Engr. John Louie D. Fabila, Data Processing Component Chief reported progress for the DREAM Program. Meanwhile, Dr. Alfredo Mahar A. Lagmay of the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards Project (Project NOAH) represented the umbrella project under which DREAM operates. Also present to share the applicability of LiDAR data, specifically in disaster preparedness, were Engr. Elpidio Paras from Cagayan de Oro and Former Pangasinan Representative Mark Cojuangco. Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Assistant Secretary Raymund E. Liboro facilitated the open forum.

The distribution of the processed LiDAR data was spearheaded by the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (PCIEERD) Executive Director Rowena Guevara. Included in the package distributed to the local government units (LGUs) were digital elevation models and flood models covering their respective areas. The data were received by the municipal mayors and the authorized representatives of the LGUs. Invited to the event were representatives from areas where LiDAR data is already 90% to completely processed.

Aside from the representatives of the LGUs of Bulacan, Pampanga, Iloilo, Camarines Sur, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija, and Tarlac, the event was also attended by around 150 people from the press and the DOST and its attached agencies.