CITY OF SAN FERNANDO Pampanga Fourth District Representative Anna York Bondoc has filed a bill in Congress seeking to modernize the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).
House Bill No. 7142 otherwise known as PHIVOLCS Modernization Act, which Bondoc authored, aims to upgrade the agency’s existing monitoring and early warning devices against natural calamities, especially volcanic eruption and tsunami.
Bondoc said PHIVOLCS's current budget only covers operational expenses such as salaries of its employees.
“Most of the budget of PHIVOLCS today has been for MOOE (Maintenance and Other Operational Expenses) and salaries of its employees nalang. They can no longer buy new equipment,” the solon said.
Under the proposed bill, the congressmen are seeking to provide around P5 billion which will be released in a staggered method.
The budget will allow PHIVOLCS to purchase mantain new early warning and monitoring devices, said Bondoc.
Among the salient features of the bill is to invest in human capital by producing new scientists such as seismologists and meteorologists, she added.
“Having modern equipment and facilities, and trained experts will really save us a lot of money and of course, people’s lives,” said Bondoc.
The lady lawmaker said she is pushing for the bill to be among the top priorities of the Congress.
“This is something that needs to be addressed urgently and with the help of our fellow lawmakers, we are positive that this will be passed soon,” she said.