Cauayan City, Philippines – In a groundbreaking feat of technological innovation, Cauayan City clinched the 2nd Place in the coveted Digital Governance Awards 2021, a recognition bestowed upon the city for its outstanding project, ODeSSEE (Optimization of Decision Support System for Effective E-governance). The project’s mission is to create automated preemptive evacuation plans for flood disasters using Covid-19 data specific to Cauayan City. This initiative represents a giant leap towards enhancing disaster preparedness and response in the region.

Project ODeSSEE, a web-based system, seamlessly integrates critical data sources to formulate preemptive evacuation plans. It draws upon the comprehensive Covid-19 profile of Cauayan City from HealthGuard Ph, a platform housing crucial information about the city’s Covid-19 cases. Additionally, it leverages data from the risk assessment and flood zoning map provided by the Office of Civil Defense and historical environmental data from DOST PAGASA. Through cutting-edge data science and analytics, Project ODeSSEE offers indispensable decision support, empowering authorities to identify safe, unsafe, and alternative evacuation centers with pinpoint accuracy.

This remarkable initiative is the result of a collaborative effort involving multiple stakeholders, including Isabela State University (ISU), the City Government of Cauayan City, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Office of Civil Defense. This collaborative effort falls under the broader Smarter Cities Project, demonstrating the power of cooperation in creating solutions that drive societal progress.

Dr. Ricmar Aquino, President of Isabela State University, and Dr. Precila Delima, Executive Officer of ISU-Cauayan Campus, played instrumental roles in the project’s success, bringing expertise and resources to the table. The Department of Science and Technology, spearheaded by Usec. Engr. Sancho Mabborang and DOST-PCIEERD under the leadership of Dr. Enrico Paringit, provided vital support, highlighting the significance of governmental and academic collaboration.

Furthermore, the Office of Civil Defense, guided by the astute leadership of Dr. Betchie Aguinaldo, Director of the Bicol Integrated Risk Assessment and Database Center (BIRDC), played a pivotal role in facilitating the project’s seamless execution.

Project ODeSSEE extends its impact far beyond Cauayan City, benefiting the entire Region 2. By harnessing data analytics, artificial intelligence, and a holistic approach to disaster management, it is poised to make communities more resilient and better prepared for the challenges of tomorrow.

The Digital Governance Awards 2021 recognition serves as a testament to Cauayan City’s dedication to innovation and its unwavering commitment to the welfare of its residents. The city’s achievement showcases the transformative potential of technology in creating a safer and more resilient future for communities across the Philippines.