On October 21, 2014, VSO Bahaginan Volunteer Arnoud Keizer was recognized by the European Commission for his efforts to improve the processes involved in the LiDAR digital mapping of the Philippines, as well as help in bringing it closer to the Filipino people. During his 10-month stay in the Philippines, he improved the project management system of the DREAM Program, and his OpenStreetMap workshops have reached the grassroots level to help communities prepare for floods and other related environmental disasters.

Chancellor Tan, in his affirmation as the 10th head of the University of the Philippines Diliman, recognized once again the Disaster Risk and Exposure Assessment for Mitigation (DREAM) Program at the investiture held last October 17, 2014 at the University Theater.

Last October 15-17, 2014 in the World Trade Center in Pasay City, the DREAM Program brought its flood hazard maps and early warning systems to bring awareness and know-how to 897 barangay officials and other stakeholders of the City of Manila. The event, entitled the “First Manila Disaster Preparedness and Crisis Management Conference 2014” brought together representatives from the Philippine Institute of Volcanology (PhiVOLCS), Red Cross, Bureau of Fire Protection, and various non-government organizations (NGOs) focused on preparing for and mitigating disasters.

Ms. Marie Joyce Ilagan, Supervising Science Research Specialist of the Data Processing Component, presented to the 2014 Philippine ESRI Users Conference audience other applications of the technologies currently used by the Disaster Risk and Exposure Assessment for Mitigation (DREAM) Program. Said conference was held last September 24, 2014 at the EDSA Shangri-La Hotel, Mandaluyong City.

Last September 2-4, 2014, DREAM brought itself a step closer to the students and teachers in Region I, II, and the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) as it displayed its eye-catching exhibit in the Cagayan State University (CSU) campus, complete with a 3D scale model rendition of LiDAR equipment gathering data, videos showing the public how DREAM operates, and most of all, relaying its achievements and contributions to disaster risk reduction and nation-building.

Ten 2014 Geodetic Engineer Licensure Exam-takers from the Disaster Risk and Exposure Assessment for Mitigation (DREAM) Program successfully made it to the roster of the new licensed Geodetic Engineers of the Philippines. These are:

The Philippines is a rather aggressive contender in a statistics of world-class scale--disasters. As Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards Project (Project NOAH) Executive Director Dr. Alfredo Mahar Lagmay presented in the dialogue with the Consuelo Foundation, it is not something to be happy about. In recent memory, the country has been a host to a number of disasters that posed millions worth of damage and thousands of casualties. 

The UP DREAM office had a surprise visit from Chancellor Michael L. Tan this morning. He reassured DREAM staff with his memorandum advising the UP Administration to unfreeze DREAM funds. This will cover the budget for personnel and aircraft services.

DREAM Program representatives attended the media forum organized by Project NOAH last August 6, 2014 and held in the National Institute of Geological Sciences (NIGS). Print and social media representatives as well as the UP Information Office of the Chancellor, among others, participated in the said event.

Last July 22-25 and July 30-August 1, 2014, the DREAM Program implemented Data Processing, Data Validation, and Flood Modeling Training for State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) as well as Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the Philippines, tasked with processing LiDAR data for the different regions.