QUEZON City Mayor Joy Belmonte on Tuesday said that the local government has been recognized as a global leader in climate adaptation and disaster resilience after winning the Frontline Protection Award during the Venice Climate Week in Italy.
Belmonte said the recognition at the Planet Aqua City Awards, in collaboration with C40 Cities, was conferred on QC's IRISE UP (Intelligent, Resilient, and Integrated Systems for the Urban Population) project, a pioneering climate and disaster resilience platform that harnesses advanced technology, real-time monitoring systems, and artificial intelligence to help protect communities from climate-related hazards.
It affirms the city's commitment to building a safer, more resilient, and climate-ready Quezon City, Belmonte said.
"This award reflects the hard work of the city government and our partners in developing innovative solutions that place the safety and welfare of our people at the center of climate action," she added.
"As climate risks continue to intensify, local governments must embrace science, technology, and community participation to strengthen resilience. We are proud that Quezon City's data-driven efforts are being recognized on the global stage," she added.
Developed through the Quezon City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, the IRISE UP integrates a vast network of automated weather stations, flood sensors, and the institutionalized reporting system in the communities, the city government said.
Local authorities, particularly at the barangay level, can easily implement targeted preparedness measures and preemptive evacuations before disasters occur through the platform that transforms meteorological and environmental data into localized, impact-based alerts across the city's 142 villages, it added.
The Planet Aqua City Awards recognize cities that are driving innovative and replicable solutions for climate adaptation and water resilience. The Frontline Protection category honors initiatives that effectively safeguard vulnerable communities from the impacts of climate change and disasters, according to the city’s Public Affairs and Information Services Department (PAISD).
It said the recognition underscores the city's continuing efforts to institutionalize data-driven governance, disaster preparedness, and climate adaptation programs that protect communities and ensure sustainable urban development.
