The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), in collaboration with Japanese tech firm Spectee Inc. and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), launched an AI-powered disaster risk management platform in the Philippines on August 14.
During the ceremony, Minister for Economic Affairs of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines Yokota Naobumi said the Spectee AI solution aims to empower national and local governments in disaster risk management. “This project is also very significant because it offers a new form of cooperation between Japan and the Philippines using emerging technologies,” he said.
DICT Assistant Secretary Miguel Luis Planas underscored the agency’s commitment to harnessing technology, social media, and disaster response for the benefit of Filipinos. “We firmly believe that technology, especially AI, must serve people first,” he said. Katrina Manubay
Spectee Pro, the platform’s core system, uses AI image and language analysis to extract data from social media, weather reports, navigation systems, and live cameras to collect, visualize, and predict disaster risks. The system has been on free trial for 120 government agencies and local governments since 2024, including Metro Manila, Legazpi City, Tagbilaran, Tacloban, Cebu City, and Davao City.
JICA Philippines Chief Representative Takashi Baba said the project is part of more than four decades of close cooperation with the Philippine government, noting that flood control and disaster risk prevention remain key priorities. The Philippines and Japan will mark 70 years of normalized diplomatic relations in 2026.
