The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) are teaming up to build a national data platform that will use artificial intelligence (AI) to help the government better prepare for disasters and manage climate risks.
The partnership will support DOST’s Geospatial Analytics & Technology Solutions (GATES) program, which aims to bring together scattered data from different government agencies into one secure and reliable system. The platform will make it easier for agencies to access information and use it for faster decision-making during emergencies.
Through the JICA Digital Transformation Lab (JICA DXLab), the partnership will help improve how government agencies share and manage data, while exploring how AI can be used to support public services. The collaboration will start in June 2026 and will run for about four months.
“As we continue to build the GATES Program, this collaboration provides an important opportunity to draw from international expertise and best practices in data governance, digital transformation, and the responsible use of AI,” said DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr.
Solidum said the project will help build a stronger data system that can support government decisions, improve disaster preparedness, and help agencies provide better services.
Launched in 2025 under DOST’s ELEV8PH initiative, the GATES program aims to connect information from agencies such as DOST-PAGASA, which provides weather data, and DOST-PHIVOLCS, which monitors earthquakes and volcanic activity, into a single platform.
The platform is expected to support tools that can predict the possible impact of typhoons, monitor climate risks, and improve disaster response planning, including evacuation efforts.
“This is not about Japan bringing solutions to the Philippines,” said Baba Takashi, chief representative of JICA Philippines. “This is about two nations, united by shared vulnerability and shared resolution, building a platform for evidence-based policies together. The expertise lies here, in the DOST scientists, the PAGASA forecasters, the PHIVOLCS researchers. JICA DXLab’s role is to walk alongside you and help accelerate what DOST has already set in motion.”
The partnership will focus on two key areas: strengthening the data platform and finding practical ways to use the information to improve government decisions.
DOST and JICA will work on making data easier to share, setting standards for AI-ready information, and ensuring AI is used responsibly while allowing agencies to keep ownership of the data they provide.
Aside from disaster management, the GATES program is also exploring other technologies such as geospatial artificial intelligence (GeoAI), predictive analytics, and Earth observation tools that can help the government plan better and support long-term development.
