Speaker Martin Romualdez said moves to build a new, AI-powered weather forecast for the entire country will boost disaster risk resilience.
The Department of Science and Technology and Atmos Inc. signed a memorandum of understanding that was witnessed by President Marcos at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in San Francisco, California on the sidelines of his participation in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit.
“This welcome initiative demonstrates President Marcos’ determination to address the evolving challenges of climate change through innovative solutions that empower our nation to adapt and thrive,” said Romualdez.
“It comes at a crucial time when the Philippines faces increasingly complex and unpredictable weather patterns. The AI-powered weather forecasting system will enhance our ability to predict and respond to weather-related events, ensuring the safety and well-being of our citizens,” he added.
He said the Philippines is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change, frequently beset by typhoons, floods, and droughts.
“By harnessing the power of AI in weather forecasting, we may be able to avert another tragedy such as the one wrought by supertyphoon
Yolanda,” said Romualdez, who represents the first district of Leyte that bore the brunt of Yolanda’s wrath.
The Atmo AI-enabled hardware-software system leverages deep learning for numerical weather prediction and is touted to have superior accuracy than the weather forecasts of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Romualdez said the innovative weather forecasting system can also enable farmers to make informed decisions about irrigation, fertilization, and pest control, leading to increased crop yields and improved overall agricultural productivity.
Accurate weather predictions would also prove invaluable to power generation and distribution utilities, enabling better management of energy resources, preventing disruptions and ensuring a stable power supply, according to Romualdez.