In the Asia-Europe Meeting Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management hosted by the Philippines held last June 4-6, 2014, President Aquino included in his keynote speech the large-scale enhancement of scientific capabilities in our country. The 18 critical river basins’ early warning systems are developed by Project NOAH, under which DREAM generates LiDAR data for flood modeling and mapping.

Last June 3, 2014, Congress adopted House Resolution No. 1118 congratulating the DOST-DREAM Program for winning the prestigious Geospatial World Excellence for Policy Implementation Award for 2014.

In his welcome speech for the World Economic Forum on East Asia 2014, President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III stated Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) technology as one of the main scientific tools in the ongoing mapping efforts of the Philippines. He underscored the benefits of using LiDAR maps particularly in fostering stronger communities amid climate change.

The Disaster Risk and Exposure Assessment for Mitigation (DREAM) Program, represented by its Program Leader Enrico C. Paringit, Dr.Eng. and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Secretary Mario Montejo, received on May 8 the Geospatial World Excellence in Policy Implementation Award for 2014, in the Geospatial World Forum awarding ceremony held in Geneva, Switzerland.

Immediately after the onslaught of Typhoon Yolanda, the Disaster Risk and Exposure Assessment for Mitigation (DREAM) Program, mobilized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), provided technical assistance in the rapid assessment of damaged infrastructures in the City of Tacloban.

Disaster Risk and Exposure Assessment for Mitigation (DREAM) contributes its LiDAR data products and flood hazard maps to the Yolanda Rehabilitation Scientific Information Center (YoRInfoCenter) launched by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of the Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) last May 17 at the National Engineering Center, University of the Philippines-Diiman.

DREAM brings its flood hazard maps of critical river basins to the Senate of the Philippines in a 2-day exhibit (May 7-8, 2014) at the Senate Office in Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City. Included were the 100-year rain return flood hazard maps from the Flood Modelling Component, meaning that statistically, the flood scenario will occur at least once in 100 years.

Last April 4, 2014, the Disaster Risk and Exposure Assessment for Mitigation (DREAM) Program organized a hydrology training attended by 20 of its personnel mostly from the Flood Modeling Component. The training was facilitated by flood modeling expert Dr. Matt Horritt from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom.

DREAM joined the official launch of the Iba na ang Panahon: Science for Safer Communities Roadshow last March 3-4, 2014, spearheaded by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), and the Office of Civil Defense (OCD), in the Oxford Princess Hotel in Clarkfield, Angeles, Pampanga.

DREAM kick-started its roll-out of 2014 trainings with an intensive 5-day ‘Flood Modeling and Mapping Training’ held on February 17-21, 2014 in the JICA Laboratory in the National Engineering Center, which was attended by a mix of SUCs, LGUs, and NGAs.