Project NOAH’s Arko finalist in international app competition

MANILA, Philippines –  “What is really out there in the mobile world and might still be slumbering inside a few creative minds, but can change our every day life tomorrow?”

This was the question posed by the UN-based World Summit Award Mobile (WSA-mobile) when it started its search for the world’s most outstanding apps.

The Philippines, which is among the UN member states targeted by organizers to join the competition, responded with its official entry – Project NOAH’s Arko mobile app.

WSA-mobile is a global initiative in cooperation with the UN World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).

Arko mobile app

Arko seeks to address the need of Filipinos to more information during times of major rain and flooding. By accessing the extensive databases of Project NOAH, or the Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards, and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Arko gives the user up-to-the-minute updates on rainfall and other weather conditions.

The Philippines is hit by an average of 20 typhoons every year. Most of the time, these cause major flooding that can be a danger to one’s life and livelihood. Lives have been lost due to storm flooding because people didn’t know where to go for safety or even if their area would be hit by a flood-causing downpour.

Arko made it to top 40

In the 2015 WSA-mobile contest, Project NOAH’s Arko app was selected as one of the 40 best apps from 178 UN-member countries.

It’s currently behind Brazil on the second spot in the public vote under the “m-Inclusion & Empowerment” category – 1,862 votes as of posting.

The public vote can influence the Grand Jury, which will select 8 mobile champions at an event in Abu Dhabi. 

The public vote will be one of three criteria in selecting the world’s most outstanding apps at the WSA-mobile events in Abu Dhabi.

“Help us win. Help us continue our work in empowering Filipino communities to save lives,” the Project NOAH team said.

You can vote for the Arko app in 3 easy steps:

1. Click on this link: http://www.wsa-mobile.org/winners/vote
2. Look for Arko in the “m-Inclusion & Empowerment category”
3. Click 5 stars for AWESOME

There’s one more day left to rally behind the Arko app. mobile app. The voting closes on Monday, January 26, 12:00 pm, Central European time. – Rappler.com

Project NOAH is a partner of Project Agos, Rappler’s collaborative platform that combines top-down government action with bottom-up civic engagement to help communities learn about climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.