The Department of Science and Technology (DOST) showcased a groundbreaking local innovation, Project SIGNAL, as the centerpiece of the culminating leg of the nationwide Handa Pilipinas exposition in Bacolod City on October 27, 2025.
The system, which has already been actively aiding Local Government Units (LGUs) in Western Visayas, was highlighted as a prime example of science-based solutions for local resilience.
What is Project SIGNAL?
Project SIGNAL, which stands for Strategic Incident Georeferencing for Nationwide Alertness, is an incident reporting and monitoring system specifically designed for LGUs. It is a mobile application that enables communities and local authorities to report emergencies—from natural disasters like landslides and floods to road accidents and medical emergencies—in real-time.
The system, developed by DOST-Region VI, utilizes geo-tagging technology to automatically pinpoint the location of an incident, which is then immediately relayed to the LGU’s Emergency Operations Center.
“This ensures that our responders get accurate and fast information so they can provide the appropriate help to our communities,” a DOST official explained.
More Than Just Response: A Planning and Analytics Tool
Beyond immediate emergency response, Project SIGNAL serves as a powerful planning tool. It allows LGUs to build a comprehensive database of all reported incidents, enabling them to analyze patterns, frequencies, and high-risk locations.
“So, it’s really a a very good planning and analytics tool for LGUs. You can see what incidents happen in my LGU, what the frequency is, and the specific location,” said DOST-6 Regional Director and DOST Negros Island Region Officer-in-Charge, Engr. Rowen R. Gelonga.
Director Gelonga emphasized that the project’s advanced Geographic Information System (GIS) capability allows LGUs to make science-anchored decisions.
“You might ask, ‘Why do landslides always happen here?’ or ‘Why is there always a vehicular accident on this curve of the highway?’ By looking at the topography and location data, you can better understand why these incidents continue to happen and come up with the appropriate response. So it is a science-based solution,” Gelonga added.
Proven Track Record and National Expansion Plans
Since its implementation in 2022, Project SIGNAL has already recorded over 27,000 incident reports from LGUs in the Western Visayas region. The reports cover a wide range of emergencies, affirming its utility.
Data from DOST-6 shows that 132 out of 139 LGUs in Western Visayas have active accounts on the platform, with 875 registered incident reporters.
While currently operational only in Western Visayas, DOST has ambitious plans for a national rollout. The launch at the Handa Pilipinas exposition in Bacolod was a strategic move to introduce the technology to other regions.
“We are now campaigning for more LGUs to use the system. And in fact, the reason why we are launching this in the Visayas is really to present this technology to the other local government units outside the Western Visayas, particularly for NIR, Region 7, as well as Region 8,” Gelonga stated.
He also revealed that DOST aims to collaborate with the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) to facilitate a wider implementation.
Handa Pilipinas: Localizing Resilience
Project SIGNAL was presented as a testament to the core mission of the Handa Pilipinas initiative. DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. explained the exposition’s regional approach, underscoring the need for localized solutions.
“There’s no one-size that fits all your needs, LGU or community needs. This is why Handa Pilipinas is going to each region in the country. Risks are local; therefore, resilience actions must be localized,” Secretary Solidum said.
The innovation received strong support from local officials present at the event. Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose V. Lacson expressed gratitude for DOST’s partnership, noting how technologies like seismic intensity meters have already enhanced their monitoring capacities.
The Handa Pilipinas exposition at the SMX Convention Center Bacolod ran from October 27 to 29, 2025, featuring exhibits and techno-fora focused on climate change and disaster preparedness. This Visayas leg concluded the nationwide tour, which previously held events in Baguio City for Luzon and Zamboanga City for Mindanao.#
