DepEd, Partners Launch AI-Powered ‘Project LIGTAS+’ to Shield 47K Schools from Disasters

To mitigate learning disruption and boost disaster resilience, the Department of Education (DepEd), in partnership with the Education Center for AI Research (E-CAIR) and SEAMEO INNOTECH, officially launched Project LIGTAS+.

The Learning Institution Geohazard Tracking and Assessment for Safety (LIGTAS+) is a nationwide, artificial intelligence-driven platform designed to protect over 47,000 public schools from typhoons, extreme heat, earthquakes, and volcanic hazards. Led by Education Secretary Sonny Angara, the initiative shifts the agency from reactive emergency responses to proactive, data-driven planning.

Advanced Tech Integration: Merges satellite imagery, AI weather models, geospatial analytics, and real-time feeds from PHIVOLCS and PAGASA.

Localized Assessments: Replaces sweeping regional suspension mandates with hyper-specific risk profiles for individual school campuses.

Live Incident Tracking: Utilizes an interactive nationwide map providing real-time exposure metrics and a 10-day weather outlook.

Automated Reporting: Streamlines field data through an Incident Management and Reporting System (IMRS) to track infrastructure damage and historical learning losses.

Beyond day-to-day emergencies, DepEd will leverage the platform's geohazard mapping to guide long-term engineering decisions, including the design and placement of disaster-resilient school buildings. The data will also optimize the strategic prepositioning of emergency learning packages.

By empowering local government units and school administrators with real-time data, Project LIGTAS+ ensures rapid, localized decisions on class suspensions. This targeted approach guarantees student safety while strictly maintaining educational continuity across the archipelago.

Courtesy: DepEd