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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No. __ .?_O_97 
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR. 
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'14 FEB-3 A9:47 
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AN ACT PROVIDING FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF THE PHILIPPINE ATMOSPHERIC', 
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GEOPHYSICAL AND ASTRONOMICAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (PAGASA), 
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PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFOR AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
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EXPLANATORY NOTE 
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Every year, an average of 20 - 25 typhoons and tropical depressions hit 
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the country leaving behind massive destruction of agricultural resources, 
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properties and loss of lives. The damage is further aggravated by the lack of 
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disaster preparedness of the people as well as of govemment agencies 
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concerned. Worse', there have been instances of inaccurate weather forecasts 
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by the government through the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and 
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Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), which all the more confuse the 
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pUblic. 
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These errors committed by the agency are attributable to inadequate 
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equipment and technical knOW-how to its personnel to cope up with the 
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changing weather and climate conditions in the country. Recently, there have 
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been reports of dissension among, and exodus of employees of the agency due 
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to low wages and insufficient benefits given to them considering the highly 
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technical nature of their functions and the hazards they face on the job. This has 
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resulted to a brain drain of available expertise in the field and has made it more 
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difficult for the agency to discharge its mandate. 
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On the above premise, there is a need to modemize the equipment and 
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facilities of PAGASA, further train its personnel. and increase the base pay and 
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benefits of its officials and personnel to improve the agency's services and 
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enhance professionolism and patriotism among its employees. 
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Primarily, this bill seeks to: 
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1) Upgrade the physical resources and operational techniques of the 
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agency to improve its capability ond services in providing timely and 
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accurate weother forecasts and wamings; 
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2) To raise the research and development capability of hUt11an resources 
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development by adopting a rationalized and integrated approach; 
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and 
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3) To increase the base pay and benefits of the agency's personnel to 
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encourage them to continue on their jobs and avert a brain drain and 
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to encourage a higher level of commitment to their tasks and swom 
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duties. 
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In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of the bill is earnestly 
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urged. 
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FERDIN 
D R. MARCOS, JR. 


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SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
Senate Bill No, _2_0_97 
INTRODUCED BY SENATOR FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR. 
,il't1att> 
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'14 
FEB -3 A9 :47 
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: 
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SECTION l.Title - This Act shall be known as "The PAGASA Modernization 
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Act of 2014". 
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SEC. 2.Declaration Policy - It is hereby declared to be the policy of the 
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state to utilize scientific knowledge and information as an effective instrument to 
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ensure the safety, well-being and economic security of the people; to promote 
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national progress and to contribute to regional socioeconomic development 
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through various applications of meteorology, geophysics and space sciences. It 
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also recognizes the responsibility of the State to strengthen the capability of the 
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State towards the institutionalization of a highly efficient and competent 
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jDersonnel of the government agency tasked to provide Atmospheric, 
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Geophysical, Astronomical and other Weather-Related services and information 
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to the public. Towards this end, the State shall undertake the modernization of 
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the 
Philippine 
Atmospheric, 
Geophysical 
and 
Astronomical 
Services 
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Administration (PAGASA) to elevate its technological, operational capacity and 
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strengthen/enhance its role as a premier national weather agency to effectively 
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and efficiently perform its mandate. 
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SEC. 3. Mandate of the PAGASA. PAGASA has the mandate to provide 
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protection against atmospheric, astronomical and other weather related and 
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natural calamities caused by typhoons, floods, landslides, storm surges, extreme 
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climatic events, climate change and other weather phenomena, and utilize 
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scientific knowledge as an effective instrument to ensure the safety, well-being 
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and economic security of all the people, and for promotion of national progress, 
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SEC. 4. Objectives -
Pursuant to the foregoing policy, the PAGASA 
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modernization program shall be implemented in accordance with the following 
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objectives: 
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a) To upgrade physical resources and operational techniques through 
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acquisition of state-of-the-art instruments, equipment and facilities to 
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enhance current capabilities in providing timely, accurate 
and 
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reliable weather, flood, climate monitoring, forecasting, and warning 
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services for the general public and information for agriculture, 
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transportation and other industries across the country; 
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b) To raise the research and development capability and human 
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resources development, adopting a rationalized and integrated 
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approach with focus on improvement of operations for specialized 
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services and cost recovery; 
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c) To develop mechanisms for integrating disaster management and 
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socioeconomic urban and rural development planning and water 
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resource management at the national and local levels in connection 
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with appropriate government agencies; 
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d) To establish and enhance regional weather service centers in strategic 
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areas in the country to broaden the agency's bases for delivery of 
service to the countryside; 
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e) To cultivate greater awareness by the public of weather systems, the 
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progress of typhoons, floods and other related hazards information 
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through the educational projects and programs and the use if social 
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rnedia; 
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f) To develop a technology-based and financially self-sufficient data 
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center which will serve as the central information station for real time 
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weather related updates available to every individual and for the 
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Philippines' typhoon preparedness plan; and 
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g) To determine a better and more competitive base pay and other 
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benefits of its personnel to promote professionalism and commitment 
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to the service. 
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SEC. 5. Human Resource Development - The three (3)-year modernization 
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plan shall provide a human resource development training component that 
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shall include undergraduate and postgraduate degree training sUbcomponents 
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and shall be upgraded to keep pace with rapid international scientific and 
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technological advances and increasing demands of weather services. 
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Not later than three (3) years from the enactment of this Act, scholarships 
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shall be provided for undergraduate and graduate degree in Meteorology in 
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coordination with the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), 
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Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and 
Higher Education Institutions 
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. (HEI's). 
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SEC. 6. Office of the PAGASA Administrator-The Administrator shall have 
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the rank/compensation of a Department Undersecretary who shall be 
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appointed by the President upon recommendation by the Secretary of the 
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Department of Science and Technology. He/She shall be assisted by three (3) 
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Deputy Administrators for the Research and Development, Operations and 
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Services, and Engineering services. 
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SEC. 7. Period of Implementation -The modernization program under this 
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Act shall be implemented for a period of three (3) years. Provided, however, 
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that payments for amortization of outstanding multi-year contract obligations 
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Incurred under this Act may extend beyond this period. PAGASA shall continue 
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to modernize and constantly update its operational capabilities to keep pace 
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with best global practices. 
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SEC. 8. Formulation and Submission of PAGASA Modernization Program -
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The Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the 
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Administrator of PAGASA. in coordination with the Secretary of the Department 
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of Budget and Management (DBM) and the Director-General of the Nationbl 
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E:conomic and Development Authority (NEDA), shall be responsible for 
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formulating the PAGASA Modernizatio,n Program based on the policy objectives 
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provided in this Act. 
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Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretary of the, 
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DOST shall submit to the President the PAGASA Modernization Program for final 
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approval. 
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SEC. 9. SALARY AND OTHER BENEFITS - In order to promote the general 
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welfare, commitment to service and professionalism, the Department of Science 
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and Technology (DOST) in coordination with the Department of Budget and 
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Management (DBM) (DBM) shall develop a new salary scale consistent with 
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Republic Act 8439 
(Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Researchers and 
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other Science and Technology personnel in government) with a corresponding 
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increase of the base pay, allowances, and other benefits of the agency subject 
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to the approval of the President to enhance the achievement of the objectives 
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of Ihis Act. 
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SEC. 10. Appropriations -
The amount necessary to carry out the 
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implementation of this Act shall be initially charged against the current fiscal 
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year appropriations of the Department of Science and Technology - Philippine 
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Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (DOST -
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PAGASA). Thereafter, the amount needed for the continued implementation of 
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the modernization program shall be included in the· annual General 
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Appropriations Act. 
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The above-stated amount may be augmented by grants, bequests, 
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contributions and donations whether from local or foreign sources: Provided, 
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that acceptance of grants, bequests, contributions and donations from foreign 
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governments shall be subject 
to the approval of the President upon the 
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recommendation of the Secretaries of the bOST and the Department of Foreign 
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Affairs (DFA). 
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SEC. 11. Progress Report - The Administrator of PAGASA shall prepare an 
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annual report on the status of the implementation of the Modernization 
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Program. The annual report shall be submitted. through the Secretary of the 
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DOST. to the President and to the Chairperson of the Committees on Science 
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and Technology of the Senate and the House of Representatives. 
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SEC. 12. 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 
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ollow it to earn revenue from its issuonce of specialized weather information, 
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certifications, and scientific and technical publications for which the necessary 
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fees can be charged; Provided thot fees collected shall be deposited os 
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income of the General Fund; Provided, further that no fees shall be charged 
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on the issuance of regular and speciol reports to the general public that affect 
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national safety, weather and economy, and such other relevant data. 
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SEC, 13. Separability Clause -If any provision or part of this Act is declared 
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invalid or unconstitutional, the other proviSions hereof which are not affected 
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thereby sholl continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 14. Repealing Clause -
All laws, orders, proclamation, rules and 
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regulations or parts thereof which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Act 
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are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 15. Effectivity Clause - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after 
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its publication in at leost two (2) national newspapers of general circulation. 
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Approved