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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PI-IILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Constitution, Article 2, Section 5 states that: 
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The xxx protection oflife, liberty and property, and the promotion of 
the general wdfare are essential for the enjoyment by all the people of the 
blessings of democracy. 
The Philippines, being an archipelagic country that sits within the Pacific Ocean's 
"Ring of Fire", is sus.ceptible to natural hazards and calamities. 
One such natural hazard is a tsunami. A tsunami is a series of sea waves , 
commonly generated by under-the-sea earthquakes and whose heights could be greater 
than 5 meters. Tsunamis cause damage by two mechanisms: the smashing force of a wall 
of water travelling at high speed, and the destructive power of a large volume of water 
draining off the land and carrying a large amount of debris with it, even with waves that 
do not look large. 
Most tsunamis, about 80 percent, happen within the "Ring of Fire," a geologically 
active area where tectonic shifts make volcanoes and earthquakes common. 
One of the most recent devastating series of tsunamis happened in 2004 known 
as the South Asian tsunami or the Boxing Day tsunami. These tsunamis did not happen in 
the Pacific Ocean but were caused by the Indian Ocean earthquake with an epicentre off 
the west coast of SHlnatra, Indonesia. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in 
recorded history. Indonesia was the hardest-hit country, followed by Sri Lanka, India, and 
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Thailand. Over 230,000 people were killed, and coastal communities were inundated with 
waves up to 30 meters (98 ft) high. 
When the Boxing Day Tsunami hit Thai shores, no one knew the tsunami was 
coming. The devastating waves killed 5,395 people - many of them foreign tourists - with 
another 2,817 people swept away or lost. Over 58,550 people were affected, including 
1,480 children who lost one 01' both parents. 
However, today Thailand reportedly has one of the best warning systems in 
Southeast Asia. To prevent another disaster from an earthquake-driven tsunami, Thailand 
has set up warning towers and tsunami-detection buoys in the sea that gather information 
used to calculate the wave direction and expected arrival time. This can be completed in 
two minutes, allowing their Tsunami centre to send out correct warning messages to the 
public via satellite and warning towers. 
In the Philippines, the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology 
(PHIVOLCS), one of the service agencies of the Department of Science and Technology, 
monitors volcano, earthquake, and tsunami activity, and issues warnings as necessary. It 
is mandated to mitigate disasters that may arise from such volcanic eruptions, 
earthquakes, tsunamis, and other related geotectonic phenomena 
Recently, the PHIL VOCS completed a project to develop, fabricate and install 
GSM-activated warning sirens in high-risk coastal communities; and to train and educate 
stakeholders on how to use the early warning system and how to respond properly during 
tsunami emergencies. The system is a Grant-in-Aid project of the DOST titled 
"Establishment of a Cost-Effective Local Tsunami Early Warning System for Selectetl 
High-Risk Coastal Communities of the Philippines" or TeWS. It aims to provide coastal 
folks with a reliable yet cost-effective devige for tsunami forecasting. Aside from its 
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efficiency and low-maintenance quality, the itechnology is designed by local scientists 
and experts from DOST, ASTI, and PHIVOLCS. 
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The efforts are commendable; however, instead of relying on grants, it is time the 
government invest resources in long-term programs that would facilitate the research and 
development of technology and systems that would equip our scientists with the capacity 
to forewarn our numerous coastal communities of possible tsunami activity. It is not 
impossible that such a situation similar to Thailand's 2004 tsunami disaster may happen 
in the Philippines where coastal towns are usually tilled with tourists and tlsherfolk. 
With the end view of protecting life and property, this bill seeks to strengthen the 
capability of the PHIL VOCS to conduct tsunami detection, forecasting, warnings and 
tsunami hazard mitigation, by establishing the Tsunami Ready Program under the 
PHIL VOCS and appropriating funds for it. 
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MIRlAM DEF~SOR s1'NTJldO 
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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S. No. 1444 
) 
) 
) 
Introduced by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago 
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AN ACT 
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~UG 29 P5:' Z 
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ESTABLISHING A PROGRAM TO STRENGTHEN TSUNAMI DETECTION, 
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FORECAST, WARNING, AND TSUNAMI HAZARD MITIGATION CAPABILITIES 
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OF THE PHILIPPINE INSTITUTE OF VOLCANOLOGY AND SEISMOLOGY 
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Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress 
assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as the "Tsunami Ready Act." 
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SECTION 2. Establishment of a Tsunami Ready Program. -The Philippine 
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Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOCS) shall operate a program to be 
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known as the, "Tsunami Ready Program," which shall strengthen the PHILVOCS' 
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capacity to conduct tsunami detection, forecasting, warnings and tsunami hazard 
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mitigation. Under this Program, the PHIL VOCS shall be mandated to: 
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(A) Monitor international tsunami warning activities around the world; 
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(B) Obtain, research, develop, utilize and maintain equipment and technology 
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capable of real-time tsunami detection, forecasting, warning and reporting; 
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(C) Identify vulnerable coastal areas and create inundation maps; 
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(D) Install and maintain a network of tsunami warning towers, sirens and other 
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early warning systems in high-risk coastal communities; 
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(E) Create and maintain a communications network with the capability to 
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disseminate warnings and other information rapidly to government officials 
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and at-risk communities; 
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(F) Conduct preparedness training and tsunami emergency response training for 
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stakeholders; and 
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(G) Maintain data quality and management systems to support the requirements of 
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the program. 
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SECTION 3. Reporting to Congress. ~ The Secretary of the Dept. of Science and 
, 
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Technology shall conduct an evaluation of the Tsunami Ready Program by reviewing the 
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current status and progress of the various program components such as tsunami detection, 
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forecasting, warning, preparedness and emergency response training and hazard 
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mitigation. The evaluation report shall be submitted to Congress every two (2) years 
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after the effectivity of this Act. 
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SECTION 4. Appropriations. - There shall be authorized to be appropriated such 
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amounts as necessary to carry out the provisions of this Act, to be included in the annual 
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budget of the PHIL VOCS in the General Appropriations Act. 
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SECTION 5. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part hereof, is held invalid 
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or unconstitutional, the remainder of the law of the provision not otherwise affected shall 
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remain valid and subsisting. 
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SECTION 6. Repealing Clause. - Any law, presidential decree or issuance, 
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executive order, letter of instruction, administrative order, rule or regulation contrary to, 
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or inconsistent with, the provisions of this Act is hereby repealed, modified or amended 
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accordingly. 
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SECTION 7. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
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its publication in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved, 
lacs 
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