SIXTEENTH CONGHESS OF THE 
HEPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Hegular Session 
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SENATE 
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Introduced by Senator LOREN LEGARDA 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to modernize the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and 
Astronomical ServicE's Administration (P AGASA) to enhance its capability in 
providing services to protect the people and the environment and to ensure 
economic security against natural hazards. 
The Philippines is prone to natural disasters. It lies along what is known as 
the "ring of fire" with a number of active volcanoes. It is also within the path of 
storms emanating from the Pacific Ocean. These conditions, aggravated by climate 
change, increase the vulnerability of many areas and people in various parts of the 
nation. Development efforts are therefore stunted as the people struggle with the 
challenges of economic survival, the occurrence of natural disasters becomes an 
added burden towards achieving development. 
There have been significant advances in the technologies used in monitoring 
meteorological and geological developments. They have great potential in providing 
vital information that can be useful in formulation development plans as well as 
crafting mechanisms for disaster management, rehabilitation and reconstruction as 
threats of natural calamities are anticipated. 
This bill addresses the need to upgrade the capacity of PAGASA to perform 
its mandate thereby providing the necessary informational requirement and 
warning systems to minimize the vulnerability of people, environment and 
economy to natural disasters. 
In view of the foregoing, the immediate passage of this bill is earnestly 
sought. 
~~~:=~-=~~.~:::=:> 
-tt':HtENLEGAHDA 
Senator 


SIXTEENTH CONGUESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Uegular Session 
) 
) 
) 
SENATE 
S.B. No.l-O-
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
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PROVIDING FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF THE PHILIPPINE 
ATMOSPHERIC, GEOPHYSICAL AND ASTRONOMICAL SERVICES 
ADMINISTRATION, PROVIDING 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. Title. - This Act shall be known as the "The P AGASA 
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Modernization Act of 2013." 
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SEC. 2. Declaration oj Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of the State to 
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utilize scientific knowledge and information as an effective instrument to ensure the 
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safety, well being, economic security and of all the people and the environment 
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against natural hazards; and to promote national progress and contribute to regional 
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socio-economic development through various applications of meteorology, 
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geophysics and space sciences. Toward this end, the state shall undertake the 
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modernization of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical 
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Services Administration (PAGASA) to elevate its technological and operational 
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capacity to effectively perform its mandate to secure the safety and well being of the 
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people and to contribute to national progress. 
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SEC. 3. 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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improve 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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b) To raise the research and development capability and human resource 
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development, adopting a rationalized and integrated approach, with focus on 
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improvement of operations for specialized services and cost recovery; 
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c) To develop mechanisms for integrating disaster management and socio-
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economic development planning at the national and local levels; 
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d) To establishment of regional weather service centers strategic areas in the 
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country to broaden the agency's bases for delivery of service to the 
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countryside; and 
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e) To cultivate greater awareness by the public of weather system through the 
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educational projects and programs in storm signals, the progress of typhoons, 
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climatic changes, and other related information. 
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SEC. 4. Period of Implementation. - The modernization program under this 
16. Act shall be implemented over a period of six (6) years: Provided, however, that 
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payments for amortization of outstanding multi-year contract obligations incurred 
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under this Act may extend beyond this period. 
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SEC. 5. Formulation and Submission of PAGASA Modernization Program. -
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The Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Director 
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of P AGASA, in coordination with the Secretary of the Department of Budget and 
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Management (DBM) and the Director-General of the National Economic and 
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Development Authority (NEDA), shall be responsible for formulating the PAGASA 
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Modernization Program based on the policy objectives 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 P AGASA Modernization Program for final 
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approval. 
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SEC. 6. PA GASA Modernization Fund. -There is hereby created the PAGASA 
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Modernization Fund which shall be used exclusively to finance the implementation 
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of the modernization program, but not to include salaries and allowances, shall be 
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funded out of the following sources: 
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a) Appropriation for the P AGASA Modernization Program of Five Billion Pesos 
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(P5,OOO,OOO,OOO.OO); 
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b) 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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c) Grants, bequests, and donations whether from local or foreign sources; 
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d) Funds from budgetary surplus, if any, as may be authorized by Congress; 
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and 
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e) All interest income of the trust fund. 
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The trust fund shall be administered by the Secretary of the DOST in accordance 
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with eXisting government auditing rules and regulations. 
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SEC. 7. PAGASA Modernization Program Oversight Committee. -There is 
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hereby created the PAGASA Modernization Program Oversight Committee 
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composed of the Secretaries of the DOST and the Department of Budget and 
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Management (DBM), the Director of PAGASA, the Chairpersons of the Committee 
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on Science and Technology of the Senate and the House of Representatives, one (1) 
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representative each from the Commission on Audit (CoA), the Office of the 
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President, and the Director-General of the NEDA. The committee shall receive 
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progress reports, evaluate the implementation of the program and provide 
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recommendations for the effective attainment of the program's objectives as 
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provided for in this Act. The Committee shall be Chaired by the Secretary of the 
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DOST. 
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SEC. 8. Progress Report. -The Director of P AGASA shall prepare annual 
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report on the slatus of the implementation of the PAGASA Modernization Program. 
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The annual report shall be submitted, through the Secretary to the DOST, to the 
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President and all the members of the P AGASA Modernization Program Oversight 
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Committee. 
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SEC. 9. Cost Recovery Measures. - The P AGASA, with the approval of the 
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DOST Secretary, shall implement a sustainable cost recovery program that will 
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allow it to earn revenue from its issuance of specialized weather information, 
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certifications, and scientific and technical publications for which the necessary fees 
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can be charged; Provided that one hundred percent (100%) of the fees collected shall 
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be retained by P AGASA for the next twenty (20) years starting six (6) years after the 
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effectivity of this Act, for the operation and maintenance of the equipment acquired 
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during the modernization program; Provided, however, that no fees shall be 
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during the modernization program; Provided, however, that no fees shall be 
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charged on the issuance of regular and special reports to the general public that 
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affect national safety, weather, and economy, and such other relevant data; 
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SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is declared 
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invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby 
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shall continue to be in full force and effect. 
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SEC. 11. Repealing Clause. -All laws, orders, proclamations, rules and 
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regulations, or parts thereof, which are inconsistent with any provision of this Act 
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are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
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SEC. 12. Effectivity. -This Act shaH 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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