AKLAN – A bill seeking to modernize the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) was filed in the House of Representatives.
The proposed “PHIVOLCS Modernization Act”, authored by Aklan 1st District Rep. Carlito Marquez, sought to strengthen the institution’s role as the premier national volcanic and earthquake monitoring agency for geotectonic hazard mitigation.
A magnitude 6 earthquake recently rocked Batuan, Masbate, disrupting the supply of electricity to the entire province and suspending work and classes.
The modernization program also aims to enhance research and development capabilities and improve basic operations and specialized services, among others.
Marquez said, “House Bill No. 7102 hopes to upgrade the capacity of PHIVOCS in performing its evolving mandate by providing the necessary technologies and increasing the number of seismic stations and human resource requirements to minimize the vulnerability of people, nature and economy.”
Of the 24 active volcanoes in the country, PHIVOLCS is monitoring only 10: Iriga, Kanlaon, Parker, Isarog, Bulusan, Mayon, Taal, Hibok-Hibok, Pinatubo and Matutum. Out of these 10 volcanoes, Taal (Batangas) and Mayon (Albay) were the only ones being monitored by cutting-edge instruments.
“Although there have been significant advances in the technologies used in mitigating disasters caused by volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis and other related geotectonic phenomena, the institution needs to be further strengthened in its capacity for conducting research, mapping, and monitoring hazards,” Marquez stressed./PN
