Gov’t upgrades energy disaster monitoring

The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST-PHIVOLCS) are teaming up to make the country’s energy sector more disaster-ready.

The agencies signed a memorandum of agreement last 12 August to integrate PHIVOLCS’ geohazard platform, GeoRiskPH, with the DOE’s Energy Disaster Information Management System.

The integration will merge GeoRiskPH’s hazard maps, risk profiles, and exposure data with EDIMS’ real-time disaster monitoring, allowing authorities to respond more quickly to energy-related emergencies.

“Our energy resilience is only as strong as its weakest link,” Energy Undersecretary and Task Force on Energy Resiliency Chairperson Felix William B. Fuentebella said.

“Integrating robust scientific data into our resilience planning is paramount to improving the reliability of power and fuel for Filipinos, especially as climate change intensifies” he added.

The combined system allows faster, more targeted responses by identifying hazards near critical energy infrastructure. It also guides strategic investments, supports resilient designs, improves public safety and coordination, and enables smarter infrastructure planning.

Building on the 2018 DOE-PHIVOLCS partnership and the Rapid Earthquake Damage Assessment System (REDAS), the initiative expands emergency planning beyond earthquakes.

REDAS has enabled faster damage analysis, reducing downtime and economic losses after seismic events.