QUEZON CITY, (PIA) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed into law Republic Act (RA) No. 12180, known as the Phivolcs Modernization Act, aimed at bolstering the capabilities of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs).
Marcos Jr. signed the law on April 24, 2025, to improve the country’s monitoring and response systems for earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, and other geotectonic hazards.
The new legislation mandates a five-year modernization program, which will be funded through the national budget and official development assistance. Key components of the program include the acquisition of state-of-the-art monitoring equipment, the expansion of the network of monitoring stations, and the construction of a new headquarters in either Metro Manila or the Clark Special Economic Zone.
Phivolcs will also develop advanced monitoring systems, including machine-learning technologies for forecasting earthquakes, tsunamis, and volcanic activity. Additionally, the modernization initiative will establish a centralized data center, modern laboratories, and a media room for press briefings, along with a learning hub featuring a library and training center.
The law emphasizes a whole-of-government and whole-of-society approach, promoting collaboration with local government units (LGUs), academic institutions, and telecom providers to enhance public information dissemination. It aims to improve risk communication, hazard mapping, and structural enforcement codes.
To support its expanded mandate, Phivolcs will create new positions and offer a revised salary scale along with retention incentives for its personnel. The agency will continue to operate under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and will be led by an Executive Director with Undersecretary rank.
The Executive Director is required to submit the comprehensive modernization program to the President within 90 days of the law’s enactment. Tax exemptions will be granted for donations, grants, and imported equipment related to the modernization efforts. An annual implementation report will also be provided to the President and Congress.
RA 12180 will take effect 15 days after its publication in the Official Gazette or a widely circulated newspaper. (JVD/PIA-NCR)
