Philippine President Marcos endorses a 7-billion-peso modernization plan for Phivolcs

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) is set to receive a significant boost in its capabilities, following the enactment of the Phivolcs Modernization Act (Republic Act No. 12180). Signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the law aims to enhance the delivery of geoscience and geotectonic phenomena information to various sectors, including local Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (DRRM), media, and the general public.

The new law allocates a modernization fund of P7 billion for Phivolcs, which will be allotted separately from the Department of Science and Technology's (DOST) budget for five years. This funding will be instrumental in providing Phivolcs with state-of-the-art equipment, highly trained staff, additional seismic stations, and a data center meeting international standards. The data center will centralize the provision of volcanic, earthquake, tsunami, and other related information.

The increased activity of the Kanlaon Volcano, which has been at Alert Level 3 since 2024, has caused significant damage to agriculture, resulting in P129 million in losses. Over 12,000 families or approximately 48,500 people have been affected, according to the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council. To address these challenges, the National Task Force Kanlaon has been established.

The National Task Force Kanlaon, created by Administrative Order No. 32, is chaired by the Department of National Defense and includes member-agencies such as the DOST, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Public Works and Highways, and Department of Social Welfare and Development, among others. The National Task Force Kanlaon will oversee the planning and implementation of recovery and resettlement programs for affected residents.

Notably, the organization under the leadership of the National Task Team Kanlaon, established to respond to volcanic threats in the Negros Island Region, is not mentioned in the available search results.

The Phivolcs Modernization Act also aims to enhance the delivery of critical information to the public. By strengthening Phivolcs' capabilities, the law seeks to mitigate disasters from volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other geotectonic phenomena, thereby ensuring the safety and well-being of the Filipino people.

Philippine President Marcos endorses a 7-billion-peso modernization plan for Phivolcs