The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) will focus on research and development (R&D), and improvement of the instruments of PAGASA and Phivolcs as it receives an additional budget for 2025.

The department’s budget increased to P 29 billion, from an initial budget of P 26.9 billion.

DOST Secretary Renato Solidum said that under the R&D projects, more programs revolving around artificial intelligence (AI) will be implemented.

“We will have a virtual hub for artificial intelligence so that we can use our facilities and expertise to solve problems,” Solidum said.

Aside from developing AI-friendly virtual hubs, Solidum also hinted at the possible development of geospatial analytics and technology solutions, that will collaborate all the data of DOST and other departments.

“Through geospatial analytics, we will create a platform to integrate all the data from DOST, and by performing analytics, we will identify the best interventions for various problems,” Solidum further added.

PAGASA and PHIVOLCS

Solidum added that the two attached agencies of DOST, which focus on climatological and geohazard events, will also benefit from the budget increase.

The secretary shared that both PAGASA and Phivolcs will purchase new types of equipment to improve their weather forecasting and delivery of timely geohazard events.

Solidum, who served as the officer-in-charge of Phivolcs, said that the agency needs to “beef up” in monitoring other volcanoes and other geological activities.

“We need to beef up and monitor other volcanoes that are not being monitored.”

He also noted a technology that can help the determination of earthquake, magnitude, and depth much faster so that it can inform the Filipino residents immediately.