A new disaster resilience platform combining citizen reporting, artificial intelligence, and blockchain technology is undergoing live testing in Naga City as the Philippines enters another typhoon season. Developed by co-founders Jared Dillinger and John Sedano, Bagyo.app aims to help communities and emergency responders access faster, more verifiable disaster information by consolidating official weather data with real-time reports from the public.

The Progressive Web App (PWA), which runs directly from a web browser without requiring installation, is currently being piloted in partnership with the SK Federation in Naga, involving communities across the Bicol Region.

Rather than positioning itself as an alternative to existing government platforms, the team says Bagyo.app is designed to complement agencies such as PAGASA and Project NOAH by adding a community-driven layer of situational awareness during disasters.

Addressing Fragmented Disaster Information

Disaster information in the Philippines often comes from multiple sources, including weather advisories, social media posts, messaging applications, local government announcements, and community volunteers. While each source serves a purpose, information can become fragmented during fast-moving emergencies.

Bagyo.app seeks to consolidate these inputs into a single platform by aggregating weather information from PAGASA, NASA, and the Global Disaster Alert and Coordination System (GDACS), alongside reports submitted directly by citizens.

Users can upload photos, videos, and incident reports, while frontliners access the information through a dedicated dashboard featuring public heat maps, livestreams, CCTV integrations, and emergency alerts.

AI and Blockchain as Supporting Infrastructure

To improve confidence in community-generated reports, the platform incorporates an artificial intelligence assistant called Aries, which helps review and verify submitted information before it is surfaced to users.

“Agent Aries… also checks reports. He also verifies if this report… is a real report,” co-founder John Sedano said.

The platform also records verified reports on a blockchain, creating a tamper-evident record intended to preserve the integrity of disaster information.

“We are also minting reports on-chain… it can’t be covered up, you can’t fake it,” Sedano added.

According to the founders, these technologies are intended to strengthen trust in community reporting rather than replace human decision-making.

Designed to Complement Existing Systems

The founders emphasize that Bagyo.app is not intended to replace existing government weather forecasting or disaster management systems.

Instead, the platform is designed to build on existing public information by making it easier for communities and responders to access localized, real-time updates.

“We don’t plan to replace; we want to supercharge, we want to add,” Sedano said.

That approach reflects the platform’s broader philosophy of working alongside public institutions while improving the speed and accessibility of disaster information.

Testing During Real Emergencies

Unlike many technology projects that undergo testing in controlled environments, Bagyo.app is being piloted during an active typhoon season.

The founders say exposing the platform to real-world conditions is essential to identifying technical issues and improving the overall user experience before expanding beyond the pilot.

“You guys, we are not perfect. We need you guys. Tell us the good, tell us the bad. Break our app. Use it,” co-founder Jared Dillinger said.

The team has also encouraged emergency responders, disaster experts, and local communities to provide feedback as development continues.

Bagyo.app remains in its pilot phase, with the current rollout focused on validating how communities interact with the platform during actual weather events.

As the Philippines continues to strengthen its disaster preparedness efforts, the pilot offers an opportunity to explore how community participation, real-time reporting, and emerging technologies can complement existing emergency response systems.

Whether the platform ultimately scales nationwide will depend not only on its technical capabilities but also on how effectively it supports the needs of citizens, volunteers, and frontliners during future disasters.

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