Villanueva: Explanation of Vote for SBN 2825: PHIVOLCS Modernization Act

PHILIPPINES, January 14 - Press Release
January 14, 2025

Explanation of Vote for SBN 2825:
PHIVOLCS Modernization Act
14 January 2025

Mr. President:

Mr. President and esteemed colleagues, a blessed afternoon to all of you.

We fully support the approval on Third Reading of Senate Bill No. 2825 under Committee Report No. 322, or the "PHIVOLCS Modernization Act." As one of the co-sponsors of the measure, we extend our thanks to the hard-working sponsor, Senator Alan Peter Cayetano, for his leadership in pushing for this critical measure.

This representation has long recognized the critical role that PHIVOLCS fulfils in monitoring seismic and volcanic hazards, and the level of resources and support needed by the agency to effectively fulfil their mandate. This is why we vote YES to this measure, which ensures that PHIVOLCS is equipped with the equipment, technology, and personnel needed for timely and accurate disaster data collection. With this measure, the capacity of PHIVOLCS would be strengthened to expand their monitoring network, enhance their research, and support the professionalization and growth of their personnel.

Mr. President, it is timely to pass this bill ahead of the full implementation of PHIVOLCS' technical cooperation with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) titled "The Project for Capacity Development for Monitoring and Information Dissemination of Earthquake, Tsunami, and Volcano",^[1] which is expected to begin this year. A modernized PHIVOLCS would be able to maximize this partnership to improve the country's disaster preparedness.

Modernizing PHIVOLCS is not merely an investment in science and technology - it is an investment in the safety and resilience of our nation. We must not wait for another tragedy to remind us of the importance of preparedness.

Again, we vote YES to this measure.

Thank you, Mr. President, dear colleagues, and may God bless us all.

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[1] PHIVOLCS. Press Release: DOST-Phivolcs Embarks on 3-Year Collaboration with JICA Come 2025. Available at https://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php/news/28519-press-release-dost-phivolcs-embarks-on-3-year-collaboration-with-jica-come-2025#:~:text=In%202025%2C%20the%20Department%20of,Monitoring%20and%20Information%20Dissemination%20of (last accessed January 14, 2025).