Can PH finally outsmart earthquakes? New mapping technologies may hold the answer

As a country sitting squarely on the Pacific Ring of Fire, the Philippines has long been vulnerable to devastating earthquakes.

But scientists and disaster experts are now banking on new high-resolution hazard maps and cutting-edge technologies to better prepare communities and prevent loss of life. 

The Department of Science and Technology (DOST), through its attached agency PHIVOLCS, officially unveiled the Accelerated Earthquake Multi-Hazards Mapping and Risk Assessment Program (ACER) during the 8th National Research and Development Conference held in Manila on July 23, 2025. 

The ACER program is a two-year initiative focused on producing faster, more detailed, and more accessible earthquake hazard maps to help local government units make informed and life-saving decisions. 

“Bali iyong ACER Program is a two-year program funded by DOST. So, ang layunin ay to create a province-wide hazard map related to earthquake hazard,” said Arturo Daag, associate scientist of PHIVOLCS and program leader of ACER. 

“Lahat ng earthquake-related hazards ay nandito para gawin mga hazard maps na mas effective, mas mabilis at mga high-resolution maps na ito,” he added. 

ACER consists of four main projects, all harnessing artificial intelligence, remote sensing, LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) drones, and geophysical surveys: Project OMEGA: Earthquake-induced landslide and ground shaking modeling; Project SIGMA: Verification and mapping of active fault lines; Project DeLTA: Liquefaction and tsunami hazard assessment; and Project LUPA: Land cover and land use risk mapping via AI for smarter urban planning. 

These projects aim to fast-track what used to be a tedious process, taking up to a year to complete hazard maps for just one province. With ACER, scientists hope to reduce that timeframe dramatically and update outdated maps, some of which are over a decade old. 

“Mas na-e-enhance iyong time ng paggawa. Kasi dati halos one province per year ang nagagawa. Hopefully mapapabilis [at] gagamitin na iyong mga modern technology like geophysical survey, LiDAR drones, at AI algorithms,” said Daag. 

The resulting maps will not only be high-resolution and science-based but will also be uploaded to the GeoRiskPH platform, making them accessible to the public for disaster planning and land-use development. 

SUPPORTING DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SCIENCE

DOST Secretary Renato Solidum emphasized that this effort falls under the agency’s commitment to using science and innovation to protect lives, especially in a country frequently hit by natural disasters. 

“So tuwing may mga malalaking panganib tulad ng malalakas na lindol, pagsabog ng bulkan, o tsunami… nawa-wipe out [ang kabuhayan]. So kailangan natin mag-focus ngayon, hindi lang mailigtas ang buhay, lalo na ang kabuhayan,” said Solidum. 

Solidum highlighted how science and technology must now contribute not just to resilience but also to economic development, through better land use, early warning systems, and industry applications. 

“Through science and technology, we want to create more jobs, more enterprises, improve the lives of Filipinos, and protect them from natural hazards and climate change,” he said. 

The DOST also showcased various innovations during the conference, ranging from flood-related health technologies to recycling systems for plastic bricks and sustainable textiles. 

But for many disaster-prone Filipinos, the ACER program could be among the most life-saving. 

As hazard mapping becomes faster, smarter, and more precise, government planners, engineers, and ordinary citizens alike may finally get the tools they need to outsmart the next big quake, or at least, be ready when it comes.