FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC )
OF THE PHILIPPINES )
First Regular Session )
10 WL -8 ANT 05
SENATE

S.No. 957 metas f.

Introduced by Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7,107 islands. Scientific
data show that most of these islands are of volcanic origin. There are 37
volcanoes of which 18 are still active. It means that an eruption of these’
volcanoes in the future can be expected. The most known active volcanoes are
Mt. Pinatubo, Mt. Mayon and Taal Volcano. They are all located on the Island of
Luzon.

We have witnessed the devastating effects wrought by the major eruption
of Mt. Pinatubo in 1991. Volcanic eruptions have claimed many lives and cost
billions of pesos in property damage. Ash eruptions pose hazards to high-flying
jet aircrafts. Lava flows, toxic gas emissions, explosions impact, and mudflows
pose a serious hazard to cities and transportation arteries as well as to our
agricultural communities.

Modern technology, in the form of geophysical monitoring networks on the
ground and the use of near-real time satellite data, makes possible warnings
before eruptions, giving emergency response agencies and the public time to
prepare, which minimizes potential damage to property and loss of life.

The efficacy of monitoring was demonstrated by the forecast and
subsequent tracking of explosive eruptions of Redoubt Volcano by the Alaska
Volcano Observatory, a partnership of the United States Geological Survey, the
University of Alaska Fairbanks, and the Alaska Division of Geological and
Geophysical Surveys.

This bill seeks to establish a national volcano early warning and monitoring
system to give emergency response agencies and the public time to prepare and
minimize potential damage to property and loss of life.

In view of the foregoing, approval of this bill is earnestly requested.

. .

MANUEL “LITO” M. LAPI aaa
Senator


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC )
OF THE PHILIPPINES
First Regular Session )
10 Mh 8 AE 05
SENATE

s.No. 957, tee &

introduced by Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid

AN ACT
TO PROVIDE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONAL VOLCANO
EARLY WARNING AND MONITORING SYSTEM, APPROPRIATING
FUNDS THEREFOR 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 may be cited as the “National
Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System Act of 2009”.

SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS. - In this Act

(1). Secretary -The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department
of Science and Technology (DOST).

(2) Department - The term “Department” means the Department of Science
and Technology.

(3) Director. - The term “Director” means the Director of the Philippine
Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.

(4) Institute. - The term “Institute” shall mean the Philippine Institute of
Volcanology and Seismology.

(5) System. - The term "System" means the National Volcano Early Warning
and Monitoring System established under section 3(a)(I).

SECTION 3. NATIONAL VOLCANO EARLY WARNING AND MONITORING
SYSTEM. -
(a) _ Establishment.--

(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish within the Institute a
program, to be known as the "National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring
System”, to monitor, warn, and protect citizens from undue and avoidable harm
from volcanic activity.


(b)

(0)

(2) Purpose.—The purpose of the System is to organize, modernize,
standardize, and stabilize the monitoring systems of the volcano observatories in
the country;

(3) Objective -The objective of the System is to monitor all the
volcanoes in the country at a level commensurate with the threat posed by the
volcanoes by-

(A) upgrading existing networks on monitored volcanoes; and

(B) __ installing new networks on unmonitored volcanoes.

System Components.--
(1) _ Ingeneral.--The System shall include—
(A) a national volcano watch office that is operational 24 hours a day
and 7 days a week;
(B) _ anational volcano data center; and
(C) an external grants program to support research in volcano

monitoring science and technology.

(2) Modernization activities.--Modemization activities under the System shall
include the comprehensive application of emerging technologies, including digital
broadband seismometers, real-time continuous global positioning systems, radar
satellite interferometry, and spectrometry to measure gas emission,

Management.
(1) Management plan.—
(A) In general.-Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of
this Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a 5-year management
plan for establishing and operating the System.
(B) _ Inclusions.-The management plan submitted under subparagraph
(A) shall include—
. (i) annual cost estimates for modemization activities and
operation of the System;
(ii) annual milestones, standards, and performance goals; and
(iii) recommendations for, and progress towards, establishing
new, or enhancing existing, partnerships to leverage resources.

(2) Advisory committee.The Secretary shall establish an advisory committee
within the Department to assist the Secretary in implementing the System, to be


comprised of representatives of relevant agencies and members of the scientific
community appointed by the Secretary.

(3) Partnerships--The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with
universities and State agencies designating the universities and agencies as
volcano observatory partners for the System.

(4) Coordination.-The Secretary shall coordinate the activities under this Act
with the heads of relevant government agencies, including—

(A) _ the Secretary of Transportation and Communications;
(B) _ the Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority; and the

(C) the Administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and
» Astronomical Services Administration; and

(d) Annual Report.-Annually, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that
describes the activities carried out under this Act.

SEC. 5. APPROPRIATIONS. - The amount necessary to carry out the
provisions of this Act shall be included and incorporated in the annual general
appropriations of the Department of Science and Technology

SEC. 6. REPEALING CLAUSE. - All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and
regulations or parts thereof not consistent with the provisions of this act are hereby
repealed or modified accordingly.

SEC. 7. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. - If any provision or part of this Act, or the
application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held unconstitutional or invalid, the
remainder of this Act shall not be affected thereby.

SEC. 8. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. --This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days
from the date of its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2)

newspapers of general circulation.

Approved,