Filipino engineer Ryvin Oliveros Mercado is developing a Swedish-supported toolkit to help neighbourhood leaders in Naga City turn rainfall readings into practical emergency action.
Mercado, an assistant professor at Ateneo de Naga University, joined the Swedish Institute’s Impact Pioneers Programme in 2025. According to Sweden’s embassy in Manila, he is now applying those experiences through the Naga–Sweden Climate-Ready Action Toolkit.
The project receives Swedish Institute support through the Sweden Alumni Network Philippines. Partners include the university, Naga’s local government, the Philippine weather agency DOST-PAGASA and Typhoon 2000.
Turning weather data into local action
In an update published on 21 October, the university said the project would help communities interpret readings from local weather stations. Planned materials include station guides, pocket cards and training resources to explain what leaders should do as rainfall intensifies.
The guides will also identify groups needing priority assistance, including young children, older people, pregnant women and people with disabilities.
Mercado presented the project’s first-month progress during a visit by Swedish Ambassador Anna Ferry and other diplomats on 19 October.
The next stage will involve workshops with neighbourhood leaders and local disaster-response officials. These will turn rainfall thresholds into actions suited to each community. The tools remain under development.
Sources: Embassy of Sweden in Manila and Ateneo de Naga University
