FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
S E N A T E  
S.B. No. 
1397 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
This bill seeks to modernize the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and 
Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) 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 increase the vulnerability of many 
areas and people in various parts of the nation. The eruption of Mayon late last year 
and the subsequent flash flood brought about by a super typhoon have left loss of lives 
and massive damage to life and property. 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 grat 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, - 
LOREN LEGARDA 
Senator 


FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE ) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
Introduced by Senator Loren Legarda 
AN ACT 
PROVIDING FOR THE MODERNIZATION OF THE PHILIPPINE ATMOSPHERIC, 
PROVIDING FUNDS THEREFORE AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
GEOPHISICAL AND ASTRONOMICAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, 
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 PAGASA 
Modernization Act of 2007." 
SEC. 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is hereby declared the policy of tlie State to 
utilize scientific knowledge and information as an effective instrument to ensure the 
safety, well being, economic security and of all the people and the environmept against 
natural hazards; and to promote national progress and contribute to regional socio- 
economic development through various applications of meteorology, geophysics and 
space sciences. Toward this end, the state shall undertake the modernization of the 
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration 
(PAGASA) to elevate its tecluiological and operational capacity tu effectively perform 
its mandate to secure the safety and well being of the people and to contribute to 
national progress. 
SEC. 
3. 
Objectives. -Pursuant to the foregoing policy, the PAGASA 
modernization program shall. be implemented in accordance with the following 
objectives: 
To upgrade physical resources and operational techniques : through 
acquisition of state-of-the-art instruments, equipment and facilities to 
improve capabilities in providing timely and reliable forecasting, warning 
services, and information for agriculture, transportation, and other industries 
across the country; 
To raise the research and development capability and human resource 
development, adopting a rationalized and integrated approach, with focus on 
improvement of operations for specialized services and cost recovery; 
To develop mechanisms for integrating disaster management a Ad socio- 
economic development planning at the national and local levels; 


d) 
To establishment of regional weather service centers strategic areas in the 
country to broaden the agency's bases for delivery of service to the 
countryside; and 
e) 
To cultivate greater awareness by the public of weather system through the 
educational projects and programs in storm signals, the progress of typhoons, 
climatic changes, and other related information. 
SEC. 4. Period of Implementation. -The modernization program under this 
Act shall be implemented over a period of six (6) years: provided, however, that 
payments for amortization of outstanding multi-year contract obligations incurred 
under this Act may extend beyond this period. 
SEC. 5. Formulation and Submission of PAGASA Modernization Program. - 
The Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the P t o r  of 
PAGASA, in coordination with the Secretary of the Department of Budget and 
Management (DBM) and the Director-General of the National Economic and 
Development Authority (NEDA), shall be responsible for formulating the PAGASA 
Modernization Program based on the policy objectives provided in this Act. 
Within ninety (90) days from the effectivity of this Act, the Secretaky of the 
(DOST) shall submit to the President the PAGASA Modernization Program for final 
approval. 
SEC. 6. PAGASA Modernization Fund. -There is hereby created the PAGASA 
Modernization Fund which shall be used exclusively to finance the implemehtation of 
the modernization program, but not to include salaries and allowances, shall be funded 
out of the following sources: 
a) 
Appropriation for the PAGASA Modernization Program of fiGe billion 
pesos (P5,000,000,000.00); 
A portion of the net income of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming 
Corporation (PAGCOR) to be taken from the fifty percent (50%) share of 
flie National Government; 
b) 
c) 
d) 
Grants, bequests, and donations whether from local or foreign sources; 
Funds from budgetary surplus, if any, as may be authorized by Congress; 
and 
! 
e) 
The trust fund shall be administered by the Secretary of the DOST in accordance 
All interest income of the trust fund. 
with existing government auditing rules and regulations. 
SEC. 7. PAGASA 34odernization Program Oversight Committee. rThere is 
hereby created the PAGASA Modernization Program Oversight Committee composed 
of the Secretaries of the DOST and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM), 
the Director of PAGASA, the Chairpersons of the Committee on Science and 
Technology of the Senate and the House of Representatives, one (1) representative each 
from the Commission on Audit (CoA), the Office of the President, and the'Director- 
General of the NED,A. The committee shall receive progress reports, evaluate the 


implementation of the program and provide recommendations for the effective 
attainment of the program’s objectives as provided for in this Act. The Committee shall 
be Chaired by the Secretary of the DOST. 
L 
SEC. 8. Progress Report. -The Director of PAGASA shall prepare annual report 
on the status of the implementation of the PAGASA Modernization Program. The 
annual report shall be submitted, through the Secretary to the DOST, to the President 
and all the members of the PAGASA Modernization Program Oversight Committee. 
SEC. 9. Cost Recovery Measures. - The PAGASA, with the approval of the 
DOST Secretary, shall implement a sustainable cost recovery program that will allow it 
to earn revenue from its issuance of specialized weather information, certifications, and 
scientific and technical publications for which the necessary fees can be charged; 
Provided that one hundred percent (100%) of the fees collected shall be retained by 
PAGASA for he next twenty (20) years starting six (6) years after the effectivity of this 
Act, for the operation and maintenance of the equipment acquired daring the 
modernization program; Provided, however, that no fees shall be charged on the 
issuance of regular and special reports to the general public that affect natioqal safety, 
weather, and economy, and such other relevant data; 
SEC. 10. Separability Clause. - If any provision or part of this Act is declared 
invalid or unconstitutional, other provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall 
continue to be in full force and effect. 
SEC. 11. 
Repealing Clause. -All laws, orders, proclamations, rules and 
regulations, or part thereof, which are inconsistent with any provision of this Act are 
hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 12. Effectivity -This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days following its 
publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) newspapers of general 
circulation. 
APPROVED,