Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila

SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

House Bill No. 1185

INTRODUCED BY HON. MARCE!

iO “MARCY” R, TEODORO

EXPLANATORY NO’

‘The Philippines is located in the western rim of the Pacific Ocean, an active portion of the earth
characterized by an encircling belt of active volcanoes and fault lines. As such, it has always been
subjected to constant disasters and calamities like earthquakes and typhoons.

Specifically, an average of twenty (20) typhoons devastate the Philippines annually affecting
millions of Filipinos and leaving behind injuries and deaths, as well as damage to properties amounting
to billions of pesos.

Said condition prevailing in the Philippines requires a dependable national weather service to
ensure utmost public safety and well-being of the country, Further, it must be stressed that ours is an
agricultural country. It is extremely necessary that we consider farmers’ welfare by giving them precise
weather information to protect themselves and their crops.

Lately, however, there have been incidences of apparently imprecise information given to the
public by Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration that places
in great danger the safety and lives of our citizens and cause considerable damage to property.

While, forecasting may be viewed an inexact science despite advances in technology, still, there
is a need to modernize the country's weather forecasting system to, at least, minimize damages caused
by typhoons and other weather disturbances.

This measure secks, among others, to establish a modern weather and flood forecasting, and
climate prediction, monitoring and warning system; to upgrade the disaster management and
emergency preparedness capability of our country, and to improve physical resources and operational
techniques through the acquisition of state-of-the-art instruments, equipment and facilities in providing
timely and reliable forecasting and warning service.

Hence, in view of the foregoing, immediate passage of this bill is earnestly sought

MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO
Representative, 1 District
Marikina City



Republic of the Philippines
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Quezon City, Metro Manila
SIXTEENTH CONGRESS
First Regular Session

1185

House Bill No.

INTRODUCED BY HON, MARCELINO “MARCY” R. TEODORO

AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF THE PHILIPPINE
ATMOSPHERIC, GEOPHYSICAL AND — ASTRONOMICAL —_ SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION (PAGASA), PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER
PURPOSES

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

ION 1 Title, — This Act shall be known as “The PAGASA Modernization Act of 2012”,
2. Declaration of Policy. ~ It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State to utilize

scientific knowledge and information as an effective instrument to ensure the safety, well-being and
economic security of the people; to promote national progress and to contribute to regional
socioeconomic development through various applications of meteorology, geophysics and space
sciences. Towards this end, the State shall undertake the modernization of the Philippine Atmospheric,
Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to elevate its technological and
operational capacity to effectively and efficiently perform its mandate

SEC. 3. Objectives. ~ Pursuant to the foregoing policy, the PAGASA modernization program shall
be implemented in accordance with the following objectives

(a) To upgrade physical resources and operational techniques through acquisition of state-of-the-art
instruments, equipment and facilities to enhance current capabilities in providing timely and reliable
forecasting, warning services for the general public and information for agriculture, transportation and
other industries across the country;

(b) ‘To raise the research and development capability and human resource development, adopting a
rationalized and integrated approach with focus on improvement of operations for specialized services
and cost recovery;

(c) To develop mechanisms for integrating disaster management and socioeconomic development
planning at the national and local levels;

(d) To establish regional weather service centers in strategic areas in the country to broaden the
agency’s bases for delivery of service to the countryside;

(e) To cultivate greater awareness by the public of weather systems, the progress of typhoons,
climatic changes and other related information through the educational projects and programs, and

() To develop a technology-based and financially self-sufficient data center which will serve as
the central information station for real time weather updates available to every individual and for the

Philippines’ typhoon preparedness plan.


SEC.4. Manpower Training. — The three (3)-year modernization plan shall include a manpower
training component that shall include undergraduate and postgraduate degree training subcomponents
Scholarships shall be provided for undergraduate and graduate degree trainings. The University of the
Philippines Los Banos is mandated, along with the Bicol University, the Central Luzon State University,
the Mariano Marcos State University, the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila and the Visayas State
University to offer an undergraduate degree program in Meteorology within three (3) years from the
enactment of this Act, Other state and private universities and colleges may likewise offer a Bachelor of
Science in Meteorology.

SEC.5. Period of Implementation. — The modernization program under this Act shall be
implemented over a period of three (3) years: Provided, however, That payments for amortization of
outstanding multi-year contract obligations incurred under this Act may extend beyond this period

SEC.6. Formulation and Submission of PAGASA Modernization Program. ~ The Secretary of the
Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Director of PAGASA, in coordination with the
Secretary of the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Director-General of the
National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), shall be responsible for formulating the
PAGASA Modernization Program based on the policy objectives provided in this Act.

Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the DOST shall submit to
the President the PAGASA Modernization Program for final approval.

SEC.7. Appropriations. ~ The amount necessary to carry out the implementation of this Act shall
be charged against the current fiscal year appropriations of the Department of Science and Technology-
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOS'-PAGASA)
‘Thereafter, the amount needed for the continued implementation of the modernization program shall be
included in the annual General Appropriations Act

‘The abovestated amount may be augmented by grants, bequests, contributions and donations
whether from local or foreign sources: Provided, ‘That acceptance of grants, bequests, contributions and
donations from foreign governments shall be subject to the approval of the President upon the

recommendations of the Secretaries of the DOST and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA).

SEC.8. Progress Report. — The Director of PAGASA shall prepare an annual report on the status

of the implementation of the PAGASA Modernization Program. ‘The annual report 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

SEC.9. Cost Recovery Measures. — ‘The PAGASA, with the approval of the DOST Secretary,
shall implement a sustainable cost recovery program that will allow it to earn revenue from its issuance
of specialized weather information, certifications, and scientific and technical publications for which the
necessary fees can be charged: Provided, That the fees collected shall be deposited as income of the
General Fund: Provided, further, That no fees shall be charged on the issuance of regular and special
reports to the general public that affect national safety, weather and economy, and such other relevant
data.

SEC. 10. Separability Clause. — Lf any provision or part of this Act is declared invalid or

unconstitutional, the other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full


force and effect

SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. ~ All laws, orders, proclamations, rules and regulations or parts
thereof which are inconsistent with any provision of this Act are hereby repealed or modified
accordingly.

SEC. 12, ffectivity Clause. ~ This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its publication
in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general circulation,

Approved,