Enrico C. Paringit
Program Leader, DREAM
University of the Philippines
Philippines

Biography
Enrico C. Paringit finished BS and MS a in the University of the Philippines. A career academic and researcher on remote sensing applications, Dr Paringit now spearheads the Disaster Risk and Exposure Assessment for Mitigation (DREAM) Program being supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) through its Grant-in-Aid. DREAM aims to develop and deploy technologies to provide necessary information for early warning and advisory to communities at risk of flooding using airborne LiDAR technology and numerical simulation.

Abstract
Developing local capacity and self-sufficiency in disaster information and management

Many countries face developmental challenges brought about by calamities that result from nature’s fury. It is important that decision makers and leaders make sound investments for the development of science-based, technology-enhanced, but purpose-driven systems that provide the information requirements geared towards the needs of the various sectors in the different phases of disaster management. The Philippine government embarked on a nationwide program to map out in greater detail the country’s most flood prone areas through the Disaster Risk and Exposure Assessment for Mitigation program (DREAM) primarily through the use of cutting-edge geospatial tools such as LIDAR for fine-scale elevation mapping, high-speed computers for simulating floods and developing early warning systems. These efforts resulted in improved systems by which flooding issues are addressed e.g. preparation, response, mitigation and regulation. A key feature of the program is its strong emphasis on developing local capacity in geospatial technologies as a way to achieve sustainability in managing its disaster-related affairs.