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FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
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REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
lit Ji. -1 Pi'1.7 
SENATE 
S. ~b'. _-:6-=5,-
Introduced by Senator JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The aftermath of Typhoons Ondoy on September 26, 2009 in Metro 
Manila and Frank on June 22, 2008 in the Visayas had left not only substantial 
damages to the country but also great loss of lives of our people due to massive 
floodings, What is more painful was that the great loss of lives was not directly 
caused by the typhoon but of human greed, negligence and apathy towards the 
environment. 
The sinking of MV Princes of the Stars which resulted to the death of an 
estimated 600 passengers and crew has caused more deaths than what was 
directly caused by Typhoon Frank which was placed at 557, 
Many had put the blame on Sulpicio Lines, the operator of MV Princess of 
the Stars, for continuing the voyage of its ship even though a storm signal had 
already been raised in some parts of the country. Others blamed the Maritime 
Industry Authority (MARINA) and the Philippine Coast Guard for allowing the MV 
Princess of the Stars to sail despite stormy weather and for their lax inspection of 
the ship and implementation of their rules and regulations. 
Meanwhile, the Sulpicio Lines had put the blame on the Philippine 
Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) 
for its erroneous and delayed weather bulletins. Sulpicio even filed a case 
against PAGASA before the court in relation to this. Sulpicio claims that PAGASA 
reported Typhoon Frank's direction was northwestward of the country and not 
westward. Assuming PAGASA's bulletin was correct, therefore MV Princess of 
the Stars, en route to Cebu from Manila port, could not have crossed path with 
typhoon Frank. However, PAGASA claimed that Typhoon Frank had an erratic 
condition and changed its path from northwest to western direction. 
This situation is a classic case of finger-pointing of responsibility. Only 
time will tell who really was responsible, and after the determination of competent 
courts and authorities. In the meantime, Congress can pass remedial measures, 
such as mandating PAGASA to issue an hourly weather bulletin during stormy 
weather and impending weather disturbances. This is not to say that Sulpicio 
Lines was correct in accusing PAGASA of committing mistake and negligence. 
The current practice of PAGASA in issuing weather bulletins in the interval 
of around five (5) to six (6) hours during stormy weather or once a typhoon signal 
is raised is no longer sufficient as proven in the case of Typhoons Ondoy and 
,,'~ 


Frank. PAGASA should issue weather bulletins more frequently once a typhoon 
enters the Philippine Area of Responsibility and when there are impending 
weather disturbances, such as but not limited to floods, tsunamis and tornadoes, 
and the broadcast media to report the same. This is to sufficiently warn and alert 
our people of the possible danger to their lives and properties in a timely manner. 
This bill mandates PAGASA to issue an hourly weather bulletin during 
typhoons and other impending weather disturbances and the broadcast media to 
report the same. 
Hence, approval of this bill is earnestly requested. 
MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI 
2 


FIFTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
) 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES ) 
First Regular Session 
) 
SENATE 
s. No. 
65 
1L_ . 
~" .. EaM,O 11'1: --r""'-' 
., 
Introduced by Senator JUAN MIGUEL F. ZUBIRI 
AN ACT 
MANDATING THE PHILIPPINE ATMOSPHERIC, GEOPHYSICAL AND 
ASTRONOMICAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (PAGASA) TO ISSUE AN 
HOURLY WEATHER BULLETIN DURING TYPHOONS AND OTHER WEATHER 
DISTURBANCES AND THE BROADCAST MEDIA TO REPORT THE SAME, AND 
FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Philippines in 
Congress assembled: 
1 
Section 1. Short Title. - This Act shall be known as 'The Hourly Weather 
2 
Bulletin Act of 2010." 
3 
4 
Section 2. Declaration of Policy. - It is declared the policy of the State to 
5 
inform its citizens of the weather conditions during typhoons and other weather 
6 
disturbances in a timely manner for the people to prepare for possible disasters and 
7 
calamities, and free them from possible danger. 
8 
9 
Section 3. Responsibility of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical And 
10 
Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). - PAGASA is hereby mandated to 
11 
issue an hourly weather bulletin when a storm or typhoon enters the Philippine Area 
12 
of Responsibility, particularly in the areas of the storm or typhoon's path; and when 
13 
there are impending weather disturbances, such as but not limited to floods, 
14 
tsunamis and tornadoes. 
15 
PAGASA's failure to carry out its responsibility under this Act shall subject its 
16 
responsible officialls to administrative sanctions and penalties. 
17 
18 
Section 4. Responsibility of the Broadcast Media. -
All broadcast media 
19 
holders of legislative franchises and Certificates of Public Convenience from the 
20 
National Telecommunications Commission, both radio and television, are mandated 
21 
to report the hourly weather bulletin of PAGASA in their radio and television 
1 


1 
programming. For this purpose, the franchises and Certificates of Public 
2 
Convenience of all the broadcast media are hereby amended so as to include their 
3 
responsibility under this Act. 
4 
Failure or refusal of a broadcast media to carry out its responsibility under this 
5 
Act shall be considered as a violation of a condition of its legislative franchise and 
6 
Certificate of Public Convenience, and shall be punishable with a penalty to be 
7 
imposed by the National Telecommunications Commission. 
8 
9 
Section 5. Repealing Clause. - All laws, presidential decrees and issuances, 
10 
executive orders, rules and regulations or parts thereof inconsistent with the 
11 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
12 
13 
Section 6. Separability Clause. - If, for any reason or reasons, any part or 
14 
provision of this Act shall be held to be unconstitutional or invalid, other parts or 
15 
provisions hereof which are not affected thereby shall continue to be in full force and 
16 
effect. 
17 
18 
Section 7. Effectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days after its 
19 
publication in two national newspapers of general circulation. 
20 
21 
Approved, 
2