SURIGAO CITY —Surigao City is looking into technology-driven solutions to improve maritime monitoring and safety through a proposed partnership with the Department of Science and Technology–Advanced Science and Technology Institute (DOST-ASTI). City officials, led by Mayor Pablo Yves L. Dumlao II, welcomed DOST-ASTI representatives during a courtesy call at the City Mayor’s Office, where Project Administrative Officer I Katrina Mina and Science Researcher Specialist I Pocholo Miguel De Lara introduced the Cost-Effective Marine Vessel Monitoring Platforms through AIS Systems and Surveillance (COMPASS). The proposed technology could provide the city with another tool for monitoring vessel activity, particularly in areas where tracking smaller boats and fishing vessels may be challenging.
COMPASS Brings Affordable Technology to Maritime Monitoring
COMPASS uses a single-board controller and solar panel to collect information on vessel movements, including the entry and exit of ships. Its design also allows for possible applications involving smaller vessels and fishing boats operating within local waters. The system could support maritime safety and emergency response by providing monitoring information that may help authorities determine vessel locations when needed. Rather than relying solely on conventional monitoring approaches, the project seeks to combine terrestrial monitoring with maritime surveillance to help address gaps in vessel monitoring across the Philippine exclusive economic zone. Under the DOST-ASTI project, standalone COMPASS stations are planned for deployment in major ports across the Philippines. These stations are intended to receive Automatic Identification System (AIS) data from vessels and boats before transmitting the information to ASTI and partner-agency servers for post-processing and data analytics.
Surigao Looks to Science and Technology for Better Governance
Mayor Dumlao II expressed the City Government’s openness to working with DOST-ASTI in exploring science and technology applications that could address local maritime concerns. City Administrator Atty. Lex Joshua Andrew Silvosa also joined the meeting. For Surigao City, discussions surrounding COMPASS open another avenue for exploring technology-based approaches to maritime governance and preparedness. Continued collaboration with science and technology institutions could help the city assess practical tools for monitoring its waters while strengthening its capacity to respond to challenges involving maritime safety and public service. The proposed partnership reflects Surigao’s efforts to explore how accessible technology can complement existing government systems and contribute to more informed, responsive, and resilient local governance.
