When Duterte Drowned Project NOAH

In 2017, under the Duterte administration, funding for Project NOAH — the Philippines’ most advanced flood and disaster warning system — was cut off. The government claimed the project had “run its course.” But scientists and local officials warned this was a fatal mistake. Project NOAH saved lives, mapped danger zones, and gave early warnings long before disaster struck. By defunding it, the Duterte government didn’t just end a project — it stripped millions of Filipinos of protection against typhoons, floods, and landslides. This decision left the nation more vulnerable in the face of climate chaos.