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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THHE REPUBLIC 
Second Regular Session 
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OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Introduced by Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid 
EXPLANATORY NOTE 
The Philippines is an archipelago of more than 7,107 islands. Scientific data 
show that most of these islands are of volcanic origin. There are 37 volcanoes of 
which 18 are still active. It means that an eruption of theses volcanoes in the future 
can be expected. The most known active volcanoes are Mt. Pinatubo, Mt. Mayon 
and Taal Volcano. They are all located on the Island of Luzon. 
We have witnessed the devastating effects wrought by the major eruption of 
Mt. Pinatubo in 1991. Volcanic eruptions have claimed many lives and cost billions 
of pesos in property damage. Ash eruptions pose hazard& to high-flying jet aircrafts. 
Lava flows, toxic gas emissions, explosions impact, and mudflows pose a serious 
hazard to cities and transportation arteries as well as to our agricultural 
communities. 
Modern technology, in the form of geophysical monitoring networks on the 
ground and the use of near-real time satellite data, makes possible warnings before 
eruptions, giving emergency response agencies and the public time to prepare, 
which minimizes potential damage to property and loss of life. 
The efficacy of monitoring was demonstrated by the forecast and subsequent 
tracking of explosive eruptions of Redoubt Volcano by the Alaska Volcano 
Observatory, a partnership of the United States Geological Survey, the University of 
Alaska Fairbanks, and the Alaska Division of Geological and Geophysical Surveys. 
This bill seeks to estab1ish.a national volcano early warning and monitoring 
system to give emergency response agencies and the public time to prepare and 
minimize potential damage to property and loss of life. 
In view of the foregoing, passage of this bill is earnestly sou 
Senator 


Ofif:?, i ;  
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FOURTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE REPUBLIC ) 
OF THE PHILIPPINES 
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Second Regular Session 
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9 J!jN -2 A!; 1!3 
Introduced by Senator Manuel “Lito” M. Lapid 
AN ACT 
TO PROVIDE FORTHE ESTABLISHMENT OF A NATIONALVOLCANO EARLY WARNING 
AND MONITORING SYSTEM, APPROPRIATING 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. SHORT TITLE. - This Act may be cited as the “National Volcano 
Early Warning and Monitoring System Act of 2009”. 
SECTION 2. DEFINITIONS. In this Act 
(1) Secretary -The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Department 
(2) Department - The term “Department” means the Department of Science 
(3) Director.--The term “Director” means the Director of the Philippine 
(4) Institute. - The term “Institute” shall mean the Philippine Institute of 
(5) System.--The term “System“ means the National Volcano Early Warning 
of Science and Technology. 
and Technology. 
Institute of Volcanology and Seismology. 
Volcanology and Seismology. 
and Monitoring System established under section 3(a)(l). 
SECTION 3. NATIONAL VOLCANO EARLY WARNING AND MONITORING 
SYSTEM. 
(a) Establishment.-- 
(1) In general.--The Secretary shall establish within the Institute a program, to 
be known as the ”National Volcano Early Warning and Monitoring System”, to 
monitor, warn, and protect citizens from undue and avoidable harm from volcanic 
activity. 
(2) Purpose.--The purpose of the System is to organize, modernize, 
standardize, and stabilize the monitoring systems of the volcano observatories in the 
country; 
(3) Objective.--The objective of the System is to monitor all the volcanoes in 
the country at a level commensurate with the threat posed by the volcanoes by- 
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(A) upgrading existing networks on monitored volcanoes; and 
(6) installing new networks on unmonitored volcanoes. 
(b) System Components.-- 
(1) In general.--The System shall include-- 
(A) a national volcano watch office that is operational 24 hours a day and 
(6) a national volcano data center; and 
(C) an external grants program to support research in volcano monitoring 
science and technology. 
(2) Modernization activities.--Modernization activities under the System shall 
include the comprehensive application of emerging technologies, including digital 
broadband seismometers, real-time continuous global positioning systems, radar 
satellite interferometry, and spectrometry to measure gas emission. 
7 days a week; 
(c) Management.-- 
(1) Management plan.-- 
(A) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this 
Act, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a 5-year management plan for 
establishing and operating the System. 
(B) Inclusions.--The management plan submitted under subparagraph (A) 
shall include-- 
(i) annual cost estimates for modernization activities and operation of 
the System; 
(ii) annual milestones, standards, and performance goals; and 
(iii) recommendations for, and progress towards, establishing new, or 
enhancing existing, partnerships to leverage resources. 
(2) Advisory committee.--The Secretary shall establish an advisory committee 
within the Department to assist the Secretary in implementing the System, to be 
comprised of representatives of relevant agencies and members of the scientific 
community appointed by the Secretary. 
(3) Partnerships--The Secretary may enter into cooperative agreements with 
universities and State agencies designating the universities and agencies as volcano 
observatory partners for the System. 
(4) Coordination.--The Secretary shall coordinate the activities under this Act 
with the heads of relevant government agencies, including-- 
(A) the Secretary of Transportation and Communications; 
(B) the Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority; and the 
(C) the Administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and 
(d) Annual Report.--Annually, the Secretary shall submit to Congress a report that 
Astronomical Services Administration; and 
describes the activities carried out under this Act. 
SEC. 5. APPROPRIATIONS.-The 
amount necessary to carry out the provisions 
of this Act shall be included and incorporated in the annual general appropriations of 
the Department of Science and Technology. 
SEC. 6. REPEALING CLAUSE. -All laws, decrees, executive orders, rules and 
regulations or parts thereof not consistent with the provisions of this act are hereby 
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repealed or modified accordingly. 
SEC. 7. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE. - If any provision or part of this Act, or the 
application thereof to any person or circumstance, is held unconstitutional or invalid, 
the remainder of this Act shall not be affected thereby. 
SEC. 8. EFFECTIVITY CLAUSE. --This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days from 
the date of its complete publication in the Official Gazette or in at least two (2) 
newspapers of general circulation. 
Approved 
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