Stakeholders of the PHiL-LIDAR 1 Program had recently convened for their 6th and final project colloquium in Zamboanga City.
During the colloquium, 18 Local Government Units (LGU) in the Zamboanga Peninsula were given hazard maps generated through the program.
LiDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, uses laser technology to generate detailed, high-resolution 3D maps for flood and hazard simulations. The LiDAR generated maps also aid in planning, construction, and energy resource mapping.
The LiDAR Colloquiums
Since the program's execution, the implementing Schools, Universities, and Colleges (SUC)s and the Higher Education Institutions (HEI)s of the Phil LiDAR 1 program in Mindanao have organized 5 different colloquiums across the island, with themes revolving around the use of LiDAR products in different areas.
These colloquiums have each been hosted by the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT), the University of the Philippines-Mindanao (UP Mindanao), the University of San Carlos (USC), and the Central Mindanao University (CMU), and have since helped to augment and improve the knowledge of participating agencies and institutions in the use of LiDAR technology.
The culminating meet, hosted by the Ateneo de Zamboanga University, emphasized on looking back at the processes and experiences of the program’s 5 SUCs and HEIs - and how their respective outputs will affect the realization of the project’s vision: to strengthen the capacity of partner stakeholders and communities in terms of disaster resiliency thru the use of LiDAR products.
The Recipients
The 18 LGUs covered by the Ateneo de Zamboanga University monitor critical river basins in Zamboanga City, Zamboanga Sibugay, and Zamboanga del Norte:
| RIVER BASIN | MUNICIPALITY / BARANGAY | PROVINCE |
| Vitali | Vitali | Zamboanga City |
| Limpapa | Limpapa | Zamboanga City |
| Tumaga | Tumaga | Zamboanga City |
| Mercedes | Mercedes | Zamboanga City |
| Manicahan | Manicahan | Zamboanga City |
| San Jose Gusu | San Jose Gusu | Zamboanga City |
| Tigbao | Licomo | Zamboanga City |
| Batu | Siay | Zamboanga Sibugay |
| Sanito | Ipil | Zamboanga Sibugay |
| Buluan | Ipil | Zamboanga Sibugay |
| Kabasalan | Kabasalan/Naga | Zamboanga Sibugay |
| Tupilac | RT LIM/Tungawan | Zamboanga Sibugay |
| Siocon | Siocon | Zamboanga Del Norte |
| Quipit | Labason | Zamboanga Del Norte |
| Labason | Labason | Zamboanga Del Norte |
| Patauag | Labason/Liloy | Zamboanga Del Norte |
| Salug | Salug | Zamboanga Del Norte |
| Palandoc | Salug | Zamboanga Del Norte |
DOST Secretary Fortunato T. Dela Peña meets with ZamPen LGUs
Through the hazard maps, LGUs can develop simulations and create effective strategies in mitigating - and if need be - responding to potential disasters.
Phil LiDAR 2
PHiL-LIDAR 1 is an expansion of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Disaster Risk and Exposure Assessment for Mitigation (DREAM) Program that has since dedicated its technologies towards disaster mitigation. Its successor, Phil LiDAR 2, looks toward providing resource maps for applications in agriculture - assisting in the production of high value crops, irrigation assessment, aquaculture production, forest protection, and the discovery of renewable energy sources have been identified as its priorities.
In the future, LiDAR can also assist in wind flow modeling and the pre-construction design for wind farms. Its capacity for laser-based wind profiling and data capture can be utilized for wind mapping applications in the years to come.
