On April 28, 2026, the University of the Cordilleras (UC) convened key regional leaders and experts at the Travelite Hotel, Legarda, for the 2nd DIGIHAZ Networking Event. Building on the momentum of the inaugural session, the forum brought together representatives from government agencies, academia, industry, and local communities to advance digital innovation in Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM).

The event focused on leveraging cross-sectoral partnerships and cutting-edge digital technologies to address the increasing vulnerability of mountain and coastal communities to natural hazards. Key objectives of the gathering included:

• Interdisciplinary Knowledge Exchange: Participants discussed emerging digital tools, research methodologies, and predictive technologies designed to enhance hazard mitigation, early warning systems, and rapid response operations.
• Strategic Partner Alignment: Local stakeholders, academic researchers, and industry leaders identified priority areas for joint research and technology deployment across the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR).
• Sustainable Community Resilience: Dialogues focused on bridging the gap between theoretical research and practical, community-level disaster preparedness protocols.

By serving as an interactive platform for idea exchange, the 2nd DIGIHAZ Networking Event reaffirmed the shared commitment of the University of the Cordilleras and its project partners to institutionalizing digital transformation in regional disaster governance. Through continued research, cross-border academic collaboration, and technology integration, UC and its DIGIHAZ stakeholders continue to lead the development of safer, smarter, and more resilient communities across the Philippines.