Manila: Laguna Gov. Sol Aragones announced Tuesday the construction of a new command center this year, aided by artificial intelligence (AI) technology, to boost disaster preparedness, emergency response, and public safety across the province. "It's important that we are prepared in any disaster, and at the end of the day, the lives of our people depend on this," the governor said in Filipino in her Facebook livestream. She noted that construction will begin before the end of the year, with the center expected to enable faster, more coordinated action during crises once operational.

According to Philippines News Agency, Provincial Information Officer Danilo Lucas, in a news release Tuesday, said the Laguna Command Center will use AI-powered closed-circuit television cameras installed across the province's 30 municipalities and cities to provide real-time monitoring of floods, road incidents, and other emergencies. "The facility will be equipped with Eagle Eye AI video surveillance at the landing point in Nagcarlan town, LED display walls, 10 monitoring stations, an automated weather station, an incident command post, and a dedicated management team," Lucas said.

An in-house meteorologist or weather forecaster will be on staff, and personnel will work in shifts to ensure continuous monitoring and coordination during emergencies, he added.