Project NOAH, the government’s flagship disaster risk reduction and management program, is set to receive P1 billion in funding after the bicameral conference committee approved the allocation under the 2026 General Appropriations Bill.
The increase was approved during the first day of bicameral deliberations led by Senate finance chair Sherwin Gatchalian and House appropriations chair Mikaela Suansing.
The funding boost was included alongside amendments to the P18-billion budget for state universities and colleges.
Suansing said Project NOAH, which operates under the University of the Philippines’ Resilience Institute, must work closely with the Department of Public Works and Highways in refining the design and monitoring of flood control projects.
She said the program’s simulation tools can help identify the most appropriate locations for flood control structures.
Suansing said the additional funding would help prevent flood control projects from being built in unsuitable areas.
The P1-billion allocation was already included in the House-approved version of the budget.
The amount was sourced from the more than P255-billion budget cut imposed on the DPWH.
Negros Occidental Rep. Javi Benitez cited Project NOAH’s ability to generate real-time, high-quality hazard maps used by local government units.
Advocates said the funding comes after years of budget cuts, even as the country’s vulnerability to climate-related disasters has continued to grow.
