Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No, 1712

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
2™ District, Ilocos Norte

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services
Administration (PAGASA) is the National Meteorological and Hydrological
Services (NMHS) agency of the Republic of the Philippines. PAGASA is
primarily mandated to provide information and dissemination of weather and
climate-telated disturbances and updates, thereby assuring safety, well-being,
and economic security. In the same way, the Agency contributes to promoting
national progress by undertaking scientific and technological services in
meteorology, hydrology, climatology, astronomy, and other geophysical
sciences.

This measure seeks to provide additional modernization funding to
PAGASA to lay the foundation of effective and efficient weather and climate
monitoring and information dissemination. This modernization program will
further strengthen the country’s monitoring, mitigation, and response system
for calamities.

In light of the foregoing, the immediate approval of this bill is earnestly
sought.

ANG! ‘COS BARBA

RECEIVED


Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City

TWENTIETH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 171 2

Introduced by Rep. ANGELO MARCOS BARBA
24 District, Ilocos Norte

AN ACT
PROVIDING FOR ADDITIONAL MODERNIZATION FUNDING
TO THE PHILIPPINE ATMOSPHERIC, GEOPHYSICAL, AND
ASTRONOMICAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (PAGASA), AND
FOR OTHER PURPOSES

Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the
Philippines in Congress assembled:

SECTION 1. Short Title. — This Act shall be known as the “PAGASA
Modernization Act.”

SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby a declared policy of the
State to apply scientific and technical knowledge and information as an
effective instrument to ensure the safety, well-being, and economic security of
the people; to safeguard the environment; and to promote national progress
and sustainable socioeconomic development through various applications of
meteorology, geophysics, astronomy, and allied sciences. The State also
recognizes the need to strengthen the capability of government personnel
tasked to provide atmospheric, geophysical, astronomical, and other weather
and climate-related services and information to the public.

The State shall undertake the modernization of the Philippine
Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration
(PAGASA) to improve its technological operational capacity, strengthen its
role as the premier national weather agency, and to attain its vision as a center
of excellence for weather-related information services.

SECTION 3. Period of Implementation. - The modernization program
under this Act shall be implemented for an initial period of two (2) years:

Provided, That payments for multi-year contract obligations incurred
under this Act may extend beyond this period;

Provided, further, That PAGASA shall continue to modernize and
constantly update its operational capabilities to keep pace with best global
practices.


SECTION 4. PAGASA Modernization Fund. ~ There is hereby created
the PAGASA Modernization Fund to be used exclusively for the PAGASA
Modernization Program.

The PAGASA Modernization Fund shall be sourced from the following:

(a) The amount of Two billion pesos (P2,000,000,000.00) to be taken
from the share of the National Government in the gross income of the
Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR). For two
(2) years after the effectivity of this Act, the amount of One billion
pesos (P1,000,000,000.00) per year shall be released to the PAGASA.
The entire amount of Two billion pesos (P2,000,000,000.00),
including any interest income therein, shall be used exclusively for
capital outlay.

(b) Income from PAGASA Specialized Products and Services and Cost
Recovery Program provided under Republic Act No. 10692 (R.A. No.
10692); and

(c) Loans, grants, bequests, and donations, whether from local or foreign
sources. ~ The Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology
(DOST), with the approval of the National Economic and Development
Authority (NEDA), and subsequently the Department of Finance
(DOF), is hereby granted the authority to enter into loan agreements
with foreign financial institutions.

The PAGASA Modernization Fund shall be administered by the
Administrator of the PAGASA in accordance with existing government
budgeting, accounting, and auditing rules and regulations.

SECTION 5. Progress Report. - The Administrator of the PAGASA shall
prepare an annual report on the status of the implementation of the PAGASA
Modernization Program which shall be submitted, through the Secretary of
the DOST, to the President and to the Chairpersons of the Committees on
Science and Technology of the Senate and the House of Representatives.

SECTION 6. Appropriations. — The amount necessary to carry out the
implementation of this Act shall be initially charged against the current fiscal
year appropriations of the DOST-PAGASA.

Thereafter, the amount needed for the continued implementation of the
modernization program, shall be included in the annual General
Appropriations Act (GAA).

SECTION 7. Transitory Provision. — Existing industries, businesses,
and offices affected by the implementation of this Act shall be given six (6)
months transitory period from the effectivity of the Implementing Rules and
Regulations (IRR) or such other period as may be determined, to comply with
the requirements of this Act.


SECTION 8. Implementing Rules and Regulations. — The departments
and agencies charged with carrying out the provisions of this Act shall, within
sixty (60) days after the effectivity of this Act, formulate the necessary rules
and regulations for its effective implementation.

SECTION 9. Separability Clause. — If any provision of this Act shall be
held unconstitutional or invalid, the remaining provisions which are not
affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and effect.

SECTION 10. Repealing Clause. - Any provision of law, decree, order,
rule or regulation inconsistent with this Act is hereby repealed and/or
modified accordingly.

SECTION 11. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after
its publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper of general circulation.

Approved,