PlanSmart Training Empowers Planners for Safer Communities

From the DOST public archive. Original source publication date: 2025-09-16. Captured 2026-09-04. Read the original DOST source.

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The Philippines, long ranked among the most disaster-prone nations in the world, is taking decisive steps toward safer, smarter land use and settlement planning. On September 15–16, 2025, the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD), in partnership with the Department of Science and Technology–Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (DOST–PHIVOLCS) and the World Bank, held the PlanSmart for Sustainable Human Settlements: Harmonized Ecological Profile and Climate & Disaster Risk Assessment Training of Trainers in Quezon City.

The two-day training gathered DHSUD’s planners, mentors, and regional trainers from across the country to strengthen science-based approaches in land use and settlement planning. The event highlighted the urgency of action as the Philippines continues to rank first in the World Risk Index, posting a score of 46.91 in 2024 and remaining among the most at-risk nations in 2025.

In his keynote address, DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum Jr. underscored that while the country’s location makes hazards inevitable, disasters themselves are preventable.

“Hazards like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and typhoons are natural and unavoidable,” Secretary Solidum said. “But with the right tools and planning, we can become victors—not victims—of disasters. Through science, technology, and smart land use planning, Filipinos can rise stronger and more resilient.”

DOST Secretary Renato U. Solidum, Jr., delivering his Keynote Address.

Participants engaged in GeoRisk Philippines hands-on sessions, guided by experts from the DOST–PHIVOLCS. They learned to navigate GeoAnalyticsPH Pro, a platform that analyzes hazards, assesses exposure, and generates data-driven insights for land use and settlement planning. These tools feed directly into PlanSmart for Sustainable Human Settlements, which transforms scientific data into actionable guidance, helping communities determine where it is safe to build, where development must be avoided, and how to design safer, more resilient spaces.

Ms. Mabelline T. Cahulogan, Officer-in-Charge of the Geology Geophysics Research & Development Division (GGRDD) of DOST-PHIVOLCS demonstrates how planners can navigate GeoRiskPH for science-based land use and settlement planning.

Secretary Solidum emphasized the pivotal role of participants as trainers, mentors, and influencers. “The knowledge you gain here will cascade to local governments, developers, and communities,” he said. “Every land use plan and housing project you influence can either reduce risk or increase it. Your task is not only to learn these tools but to master and equip them, ensuring that risk reduction is embedded in every city and municipality.”

The outputs from the training’s Ecological Profile and Climate Disaster Risk Assessment module will directly form the basis of Comprehensive Land Use Plans, which in turn guide zoning ordinances and housing designs across the country.

As Secretary Solidum concluded, “This partnership between DOST, DHSUD, and the World Bank, can transform the Philippines from the world’s most at-risk nation into a model of resilience and innovation—where we are not just surviving, but thriving and leading the way toward a safer, stronger nation.” ###

(By Karen Vivien A. Conducto, DOST-Office of the Secretary)