SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No.l16 0 
Introduced by Senator Cynthia A. Villar 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
"13 
.JUL 30 P 2 :31 
Every year the average Filipino expects to be affected by torrential weather 
between the months of July and October. This stormy season is due to the Philippines. 
geographical location amidst a typhoon belt. The result is an average of 20 typhoons 
and/or storms per year. 
These annual natural disasters ravage our nation and leave our country with 
huge economic losses, numerous social losses and at times, unavoidable fatalities. 
According to a report on January 26, 2012 made by Natural Disaster Risk Reduction 
and Management Council (NDRRMC); Typhoon Sendong caused PHP1.4 Trillion 
Pesos of damages in Agricultural and Infrastructure sectors of the Philippines. While the 
final reporst of Typhoon Ondoy and Pepeng estimated the damages to be PHP11 Billion 
Pesos and PHP 27 Billion Pesos respectively. 
The tools of PAGASA (Philippine Atmospehric Geophysical and Astronomical 
Services Administration) need to urgently be improved and modernized because we rely 
on them to safeguard the Filipino people and our economy. The Philippine economy is 
growing at a rapid rate with an increase of 1 % GDP in the past year. By modernizing 
the tools used by our hardworking officials of PAGASA we can protect our people and 
their potential for growth by properly antiCipating and preparing our nation for incoming 
typhoons and storms. 
While we cannot avoid these annual disasters, we can prepare and ready 
ourselves against natural adversity in order to minimize the losses suffered by our 
peoples The attached bill proposes the modernization of PAGASA and provides for the 
following, among others: establishment of regional weather service centers in strategic 
areas in the country; modernization of physical resources and operational techniques 
through acquisition of state-of-the-art instruments; intensification of human resources 
development; 
upgrading of research and development capability; and a PAGASA 
Modernization Fund partly sourced from income of PAGCOR. It is hoped that the 
modernization of PAGASA would result in more accurate weather prediction, in order to 
better prepare the country against the damages of the typhoon season. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is highly 
recommended. 


SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. 1160 
Introduced by Senator Cynthia A. Villar 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF THE PHILIPPINE 
ATMOSPHERIC GEOPHYSICAL AND ASTRONOMICAL SERVICES 
ADMINISTRATION, PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFORE AND FOR OTHER 
PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
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SECTION 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "PAGASA Modernization of 
2 
2013." 
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SECTION 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State 
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to improve weather forecasting in the country and to ensure its accuracy and timely 
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dissemination to the public. Towards this end, the State shall undertake the 
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modernization of the national weather service to ensure the safety and well-being of the 
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people and to ensure national progress. 
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In the implementation of the foregoing policy, the State shall, in accordance with 
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the provision of this Act: 
. 
'. 
. . . .  
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a. Undertake measures to improve on the current state of weather forecasting 
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and warning system in the country; 
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b. Cultivate greater awareness by the public of weather systems through the 
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educational projects and programs in storm signals, the development of 
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typhoons, climatic changes, and other related information; 
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c. Upgrade, modernize and procure state-of-the-art weather and geophysical 
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eqUipment, instruments and facilities, and the application of new technologies to 
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improve our capabilities in providing timely and reliable forecasting, warning 
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services, and information for agriculture, transportation and other industries 
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across the country. 
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SECTION 3. Components of Modernization. - To realize improved and enhanced 
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weather and flood forecasting, climate monitoring/prediction and astronomical and 
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associated services, the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical 
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Services Administration (PAGASA) shall undertake a six (6) year modernization 
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program. Towards this end, the PAGASA shall adopt the following four pronged 
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principal approach, in the order of priority: 
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a. Establishment of regional weather service centers in strategic areas in the 
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country to broaden the agency's bases for delivery of service to the countryside; 
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b. Modernization of physical resources and operational techniques through 
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acquisition of state-of-the-art instruments, equipment and facilities, with 
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emphasis on weather and flood monitoring and warning system and ago-
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meteorological observational system to strengthen services for agriculture; 
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c. Intensification of human resources development to keep at pace with the rapid 
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scientific and technological advances; 
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d. Upgrading of research and development capability through a more rationalized 
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and totally integrated approach and identified activities, with focus on 
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improvement of operations, as well as the development of specialized services 
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for cost recovery. 
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SECTION 4. Program Description. - The modernization program under this Act 
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shall principally be a re-tooling of the PAGASA with modern equipment and facilities, 
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including but not limited to advanced observational and surveillance system for 
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meteorological 
and 
hydrological 
elements, 
whenever 
possible 
satellite-based 
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communication network, supercomputers for data processing analysis and forecasting, 
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and computer based workstations for generating increased volume for detailed 
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information. It shall also establish an efficient human resources development program 
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that emphasizes on professional education, training and research. 
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SECTION 5. PAGASA Modernization Oversight Committee. - There is hereby 
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created a Modernization OverSight Committee composed of the Secretary of Science 
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and Technology, the Director of the PAGASA, the Chairperson of the Congressional 
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Committee on Science and Technology, and a representative from the Office of the 
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President, through the Project Monitoring Staff of the National Economic and 
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Development Authority (NEDA), who shall oversee the implementation of the 
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modernization program provided under this Act. The Committee shall be chaired by the 
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Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). 
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SECTION 6. PAGASA Modernization Fund. - There is hereby created the 
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PAGASA Modernization Fund which shall be used exclusively to fund the modernization 
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program which shall include whatever funds may be made available from, but not 
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limited to, the following sources: 
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a. A portion of the net income of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming 
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Corporation ,(PAGCOR) to be taken from the fifty percent (50%) share of the 
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National Government. 
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b. Loans, grants, bequests, and don!iltions whether from local or foreign sources, 
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The Secretary of the DOST with the approval of the National Economic and 
49 
Development Authority (NEDA) and subsequently the Department of Finance is 
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hereby granted the authority to enter into loan agreements with foreign financial 
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institutions. 
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SECTION 7. Cost Recovery Measures. - The PAGASA, with the approval of the 
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DOST Secretary, shall implement a sustainable cost recovery program that will allow it 
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to earn revenue from its issuance of specialized weather information, certifications, and 
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scientific and technical publications for which the necessary fees can be charged; 
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Provided that one hundred percent (100%) of the fees collected shall be retained by 
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PAGASA for the next twenty (20) years starting six (6) years after the effectivity of this 
10 
Act, for the operation and maintenance of the equipment acquired during the 
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modernization program; Provided, however, that no fees shall be charged on the 
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issuance of regular and special reports to the general public that affect national safety, 
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weather, and economy, and such other relevant data; 
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SECTION 8. Progress Report. - The Secretary of the DOST and the Director of 
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the PAGASA shall submit to the Office of the President and the Congressional 
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Committees on Science and Technology a quarterly report on the progress of the 
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modernization program for the duration of its implementation. 
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SECTION 9. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, proclamations, rules and 
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regulations, or part thereof, which are inconsistent with any provision of this Act are 
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hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SECTION 10. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its 
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publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
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circulation. 
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Approved, 
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