Senator Alan Peter Cayetano is pushing for a comprehensive plan to strengthen the capabilities of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS), emphasizing the urgent need to upgrade the agency’s resources to better prepare the country for natural disasters.
“We should really give all the effort for this modernization bill. It will help us in the long run,” he said.
Filed on Monday, September 16, 2024, Senate Bill No. 2825 under Committee Report No. 322 proposes the PHIVOLCS Modernization Act. This bill aims to upgrade the agency’s tools and infrastructure, enhance its research and public outreach, and expand its monitoring capabilities.
The measure will help PHIVOLCS “to advance (its) research and development capabilities by adopting a systematic approach and integrating all developed methodologies focused on the improvement of vital operations and specialized functions and services.”
These efforts are designed to strengthen the country’s disaster preparedness and management for events like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and tsunamis, ultimately making the public safer and better informed.
At a Senate Committee on Science and Technology hearing last February, committee chair Cayetano emphasized the need to equip PHIVOLCS with advanced systems to improve the agency’s operational standards.
“It’s time we modernize and we put the money there. We just stop talking about it and just do it because we are a country that is vulnerable to disasters and calamities,” he said.
The senator also said modernizing PHIVOLCS will assist the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in its infrastructure programs.
“Hazard mapping will aid everyone in construction, including where to build and where not to build new roads,” he said.
“Kung walang guide ang DPWH sa earthquake hazard maps, hindi natin alam kung ang ginagawa nilang bridges, covered courts, and buildings are on areas that are dangerous,” he added.
Aside from upgrading PHIVOLCS’ technological capabilities, the bill also prioritizes improving public information on disaster risks and strengthening coordination with other government agencies and stakeholders.
“It shall include continuous sharing of information with LGUs and other stakeholders that will help in disaster planning, preparation, and disaster mitigation, among others,” the bill states.
The bill is set to be further discussed on the Senate floor.
