SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF TIlE 
REPUBLIC OF TIlE PHILIPPINES 
Second Regular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S. No. 
2834 
,::,'; 
~'·h' i >; ,i;: 
In substitution of Senate Bill Nos. 10, 158,842,955,1160,1937,2097,2265, taking into 
consideration House Bill No. 4397 
Prepared Jointly by the Committees on Science and Technology and Finance with Senators 
Loren B. Legarda, Francis "Chiz" G. Escudero, Antonio "Sonny" F. Trillanes, Joseph Victor 
G. Ejercito, Ramon Bong Revilla, Jr., Cynthia A. Villar, Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., 
Franklin M. Drilon and Ralph G. Recto as authors 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING I<OR THE MODERNIZATION 01< TilE PHILIPPINE 
ATMOSPHERIC, GEOPHYSICAL AND ASTRONOMICAL SERVICES 
ADMINISTRATION (PAGASA), PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR 
OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and lIouse a/Representatives a/the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
SECTION. 1. Title. - This Act shall be known as 'The PAGASA Modernization Act 
2 
of2015". 
3 
SEC. 2. Declaration a/Policy. - It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State to 
4 
utilize scientific and technical knowledge and information as an effective instrument to 
5 
ensure the safety, well-being and economic security of the people; to safeguard the 
6 
environment; and to promote national progress and sllstainable socioeconomic development 
7 
through various applications of meteorology, geophysics, astronomy and allied sciences. The 
8 
State also recognizes the need to strengthen the capability of government personnel tasked to 
9 
provide atmospheric, geophysical, astronomical and other weather and climate-related 
10 
servIces and information to the public. Towards this end, the State shall undertake the 
11 
modernization of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services 
12 
Administration (PAGASA) to improve its technological operational capacity, strengthen its 
13 
role as the premier national weather agency and to attain its vision as a center of excellence 
14 
for weather related information services. 
Page 1 0[7 


1 
SEC. 3. Malldate of the PAGASA. - PAGASA shall provide adequate, up-to-date 
2 
data, and timely information on atmospheric, astronomical and other weather-related 
3 
phenomena using the advances achieved in the realm of science to help government and the 
4 
people prepare for calamities caused by typhoons, floods, landslides, storm surges, extreme 
5 
elimatic events, and climate change, among others, to afford greater protection to the people. 
6 
It shall also provide science and technology-based assessments pertinent to decision making 
7 
in relevant areas of concern such as in disaster risk reduction, climate change adaptation and 
8 
integrated water resources management, as well as capacity building. The PAGASA shall 
9 
ensure that the country fulfills its commitments to intcrnational meteorological and climate 
10 
change agreements. 
11 
SEC. 4. Objectives. - Pursuant to the foregoing policy, the P AGASA Modernization 
12 
Program shall be implemented in accordance with tbe following objectives: 
13 
a) To upgrade physical resources and operational techniques through acquisition and 
14 
development of state-of-the-art instruments, equipment, facilities and systems to 
15 
enhance current capabilities in providing useful, timely, accurate and reliable 
16 
weather, flood and climate monitoring, forecasting, and localized warning and 
17 
information services for usc in decision making in disaster preparedness, climate 
18 
change adaptation, water resources management, agriculture, transportation, 
19 
health, tourism and other sectors; 
20 
b) To enhance research and development capabilities by adopting a rationalized and 
21 
integrated approach with focus on the improvement of basic operations and 
22 
specialized services; 
23 
c) To integrate disaster risk reduction and management, climate change adaptation 
24 
and water resource management in the sustainable socioeconomic development 
25 
planning at the national and local levels in coordination with appropriate 
26 
government agencies and other entities; 
27 
d) To strengthen linkages and cooperation at the national level among the various 
28 
providers and users of weather, climate, and water-related information, products 
29 
and services as well as to provide for the 
appropriate mechanisms for this 
30 
purpose; 
31 
c) To establish and enhance field weather service centers in strategic areas in the 
32 
country to broaden the agency base for the delivcry of service in the countryside; 
Page 2 of7 


1 
f) To strengthen a technology-based data center consistent with international 
2 
standards to make information available to those involved, whether from the 
3 
government or private sector in Disaster Risks Reduction and Management Plans, 
4 
Climate Change Adaptation Program and Water Resources Program; among 
5 
others; 
6 
g) To enhance public information, education and advocacy on atmospheric, 
7 
astronomical and hydro meteorological hazards such as heavy rainfall, strong 
8 
winds, floods, landslides, storm surges, droughts, extreme weather and climatic 
9 
events, and climate change, as well as their impacts, risks and vulnerability; 
10 
11) To facilitate the appropriate appreciation and delivery of information, products 
11 
and services to decision makers, media, other users and the general public; and 
12 
i) To provide a more competitive base pay and other benefits for its personnel in 
13 
order to promotc profcssionalism and commitmcnt to the servicc. 
14 
SEC. 5. Organizational Structure. - The PAGASA shall be an attached agency of the 
15 
Department of Science and Tcchnology (DOST) for purposes of policy and program 
16 
coordination, to ensure alignmcnt in national science and technology policies and ptiorities. 
17 
It shall be headed by an Administrator with the rank and compensation of a Department 
18 
Undersecretary who shall be appointed by the President upon recommendation by the 
19 
Secretary ofthe DOST. 
20 
The Administrator shall be assisted by three (3) Deputy Administrators for Operations 
21 
and Regional Scrvices, Rescarch and Development and Administration, Finance and 
22 
Engineering Services, to be appointed by the President: Provided, That two (2) of the Deputy 
23 
Administrators shall be career officers. 
24 
SEC. 6. Qualifications.- No pcrson shall be appointed as Administrator or Deputy 
25 
Administrator unless he or she is a citizen and resident of the Philippines, of good moral 
26 
character, of proven integrity, with an advanced degree in Meteorology or related fields of 
27 
study and with at least three (3) years of eompetcnce and expertise in meteorology, 
28 
geophysics, astronomy or allied sciences. 
29 
SEC. 7. COlJlponents o/Modernization. - The PAGASA modernization shall have the 
30 
following eomponcnts: 
31 
a) Modernizatio/l 0/ physical resources and operational techniques. - This shall 
32 
entail the acquisition andlor upgrade of state-ot~thc-art instruments, equipment, 
33 
facilities and systems, with emphasis on weather and flood monitoring and 
Page 3 of7 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
16 
17 
18 
19 
20 
21 
22 
23 
24 
25 
26 
27 
28 
29 
30 
31 
32 
warnll1g system and agro-meteorologieal obscrvation system to strengthcn 
scrvices for agriculture and food sccurity: Provided, That prior to such acquisition 
and/or upgrade, an inventory of all existing govcl11ment and private weather 
instruments nationwide shall be undertaken: Providcdfurthcr, That the acquisition 
of new instruments, equipmcnt and systems shall be harmonized with the phase-
out of uneconomical ami obsolete instruments, equipment and systems in thc 
PAGASA inventory; 
b) El1hclIlCcmellt 0/ research and development capability. - This shall involve the 
enhancement of research and development capability through a morc rationalized 
and totally integratcd approach and idcntified activities, with focus on 
improvement of operations, as well as the development of specialized services 
with cost rceovery measures; 
c) Establishmcnt of' regional weather service ccnters. -
This shall include the 
establishmcnt of tlood forecasting and waming sub-ccntcrs in strategic areas in 
the country to broaden the agcncy base for delivery of service to the countryside; 
d) Establishmcnt of'PAGASA Data Cellter. - This shall include the centralization of 
the diffcrcnt tcchnical outputs which include facts, figures and statistics dcrived 
frol11 the PAGASA operations and systcms, through the establishmcnt of a 
technology-bascd data center that is consistent with international standards in 
order to make atmospheric, astronomical and weather-related infonnation 
accessible and readily available to all gove111mcnt agencies involved in elimate 
change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and management, the academe, 
researchcrs, media and the general public. 
c) Enhclllccl11ent of Wcathcr Data Collection and Information Dissemination 
Scrvices. - This shall involve the dcvelopmcnt and usc of effective weather 
information method using local dialects, non-technical terms and familiar 
graphical presentations that will ensure the delivery of accurate, up-to-date and 
timely atmospheric, astronomical and weather-related information to create 
greater public awareness and draw appropriatc response for disaster risk 
reduction: Providcd. That PAGASA should partner with other government 
agencies and private cntities for the collection and dissemination of weather data 
and information. 
Page 4 of7 


1 
2 
3 
4 
5 
6 
7 
8 
9 
10 
11 
12 
13 
14 
15 
f) Creatioll 0/ a Human Resource DC1'clopmcnt Program. - This component shall 
include the following: 
1. 
New Salmy Scale for PAGASA Persollnel. - The Department of Budget 
and Management (DBM) shall develop a new salary scale [or PAGASA 
pcrsonnel in eonsonancc with Rcpublic Act No. 8439, otherwise known as 
the "Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Rcsearehers and othcr Science 
and Technology Personnel in Government" with a corresponding increase 
in the base pay, allowances, and otber benctits; 
11. 
111. 
PAGASA l'ersonnel Retentioll hlcelltivc. - An additional incentive to be 
known as the "Pcrsonnel Retention Incentive" shall be provided to 
qualified PAGASA personnel, to be determined by PAGASA 
111 
consultation with DBM in an amount not exceeding twenty percent (20%) 
of the monthly basic salary subject to the Implementing Rules and 
Regulations (IRR) which shall be hereinalter formulated; and 
Scholarship Program. - Not later than three (3) years from the enactment 
16 
of this Act, scholarships shall be provided for undergraduate and graduate 
17 
studies in Meleorology and related fields as well as for specializcd training 
18 
programs, in coordination with the DOST, Commission on Higher 
19 
Education (CHED) and Higher Education Institutions (1·IEIs). Cooperation 
20 
on human resources upgrading and capability enhancement with regional 
21 
and international organizations shall also be undertaken. 
22 
g) Development 0/ Regional and Intemational Cooperation Program. - This shall 
23 
cntail the development of appropriate collaborative arrangements with relevant 
24 
regional and international bodies and government institutions to complement the 
25 
national eiTort for modernization. 
26 
SEC. 8. Formulation and SlIbmissioll cef PAGASA Modernization l'rogrom. - The 
27 
Secretary of the DOST and the Administrator of PAGASA, in coordination with the 
28 
Secretary of the DBM and the Director-Gcneral ofthe National Economic and Development 
29 
Authority (NEDA), shall formulate the PAGASA Modernization Program and oversee its 
30 
implementation based on the policy objectives provided in this Act. 
31 
The PAGASA Modernization Program shall indicate among others: 
32 
a) l'AGASA's requircments in terms of personncl, equipment and facilities during 
33 
the various stages of' modernization; 
Page 5 of7 


1 
b) The modernization projects, which shall indicate the equipmcnt and technology 
2 
acquisitions, including major constmction or upgradc of facility and the particular 
3 
objective and component to which such intended acquisition, construction and 
4 
upgrading belongs to; and 
5 
c) The priorities, schedules and estimated cost of each modernization project. 
6 
Within ninety (90) days Irol11 the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the DOST 
7 
shall submit to the President the PAGASA Modernization Program for approval. 
8 
SEC. 9. Period of Implementation . ..... The modemization program under this Act shall 
9 
be implemented for an initial period of three (3) years: Provided, That payments for multi-
10 
year contract obligations inculTed under this Act may extend beyond this period: Provided, 
11 
further, That PAGASA shall continue to modernize and constantly update its operational 
12 
capabilities to keep pace with best global practices. 
13 
SEC. 10. PAGASA Modemizatioll Trust Fund .
..... There is hereby created the 
14 
PAGASA Modernization Trust £lund which shall be used exclusivcly to fund the 
15 
modernization program which shall include whatever funds that may be available from, but 
16 
not limited to, the following sources: 
17 
a) Three Billion Pesos (P3,000,OOO,OOO.OO) from the net income of the Philippine 
18 
Amusemcnt and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), to be taken from the fifty 
19 
percent (50%) share of the National Government: Provided, That not \css than 
20 
seventy percent (70%) of the 1'3 Billion shall be utilized for capital outlays. 
21 
b) Income ti'om PAGASA Specialized Products and Services and Cost Recovery 
22 
Program provided under Scction II ofthis Act; 
23 
c) Loans, grants, bequest, and donations whethcr from local or foreign sources. The 
24 
Secretary of the DOST with thc approval of the .NEDA and subsequently the 
25 
Depmiment 0 r Finance (DOF) is hereby granted the authority to enter into 108n 
26 
agreements with foreign financial institutions; 
27 
d) Any funds as may be authorized by Congress; and 
28 
e) All interest income of the PAGASA Modernization Trust Fund. 
29 
The P AGASA Modernization Trust Funel shall be administered by the Administrator 
30 
of PAGASA in accordance with existing government budgeting, accounting and auditing 
31 
rules and regulations. 
32 
SEC. 11. Specialized Products and Services and Cost RecovelY Program . ..... The 
33 
PAGASA, with the approval of the DOST Secretary shall implement a sustainable PAGASA 
Page 6of7 


1 
Specialized Services and Cost Recovery Program that will allow it to cam revenue from its 
2 
issuance of specialized weather products and services, especially, but not limited to those 
3 
related to aviation and maritime industry, weather certifications, and scientific and technical 
4 
publications for which the necessary fces can be charged: Provided, That no fees shall be 
5 
charged on the issuance of regular and special forecasts, warnings that affect national safety, 
6 
and such other relevant data, products and services for the public good. 
7 
SEC. 12. Progress Report. - The Administrator of PAGASA shall prepare an annual 
8 
report on the status of the implementation of the PAGASA Modemization Program which 
9 
shall be submitted, through the Secretary of the DOST, to the President and to the 
10 
Chairpersons of the Committees on Science and Technology of the Senate and the House of 
11 
Representatives not later than June 30 of the succeeding year. 
12 
SEC. 13. Appropriations. - The amount necessaty to carry out the implementation of 
13 
this Act shall be initially chargcd against the current ·fiscal year appropriations of the DOST-
14 
PAGASA,' Thcrcafter, the amollnt needed [or thc continued implementation of the 
15 
modernization program shal1 be included in thc annual General Appropriations Act. 
16 
The above-stated amount may be augmented by grants, bequests, eontJibutions and 
17 
donations whether from local or foreign sources: Provided, That acceptance of grants, 
18 
bequests, contributions and donations li'Oll1 foreign governments shall be subject to the 
19 
approval of the President upon thc recolllmendation of thc Seerctarics of the DOST and the 
20 
Department offorcign Aflilirs (DFA). 
21 
SEC. 14. implementing Rules and Regulations (lRR). - Within ninety (90) days from 
22 
the efTcctivity of this Act, the DOST, l' AGASA and DBM shall issuc the Implemcnting Rules 
23 
and Regulations for the effective implementation ofthis Act. 
24 
SEC. 15. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is declared 
25 
invalid or unconstitutional, thc other provisions hcreof which are not affected thereby shall 
26 
continue to be in full force and cffect. 
27 
SEC. 16. Repealing Clause. - All laws, orders, proclamation, rules and regulations or 
28 
patis thereof which arc inconsistent with the provisions of this Act are hercby repealed or 
29 
modified accordingly. 
30 
SEC. 17. Effectivity Clause. - This Act shall take effect fiftecn (15) days aftcr its 
31 
publication in at least two (2) nationalncwspapcrs of gcneral circulation. 
Approvcd, 
Page 7 01'7