The bill seeking to modernize the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs) is now awaiting President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s signature, Sen. Alan Peter Cayetano said.

This, after the Senate ratified the final version of the Phivolcs Modernization Act (House Bill No. 10730 and Senate Bill No. 2825), following the successful bicameral conference committee last week.

“By modernizing Phivolcs, we are making a bold move to ensure that science and innovation are at the heart of our disaster response and preparedness,” Cayetano said.

The Phivolcs Modernization Act seeks to expand and upgrade the agency’s equipment, facilities, and workforce to improve its ability to monitor and respond to disasters.

Additionally, the measure provides for better salaries and training programs for Phivolcs personnel to attract and retain experts in the field.

The bicameral conference committee adopted the Senate version as the working draft, incorporating several key provisions.

One provision seeks to allow Phivolcs to lease, with an option to purchase, an area within the Clark Special Economic Zone in Tarlac from the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) based on terms and conditions to be agreed upon by the BCDA and PHIVOLCS.

The bill also provides for the development of collaborative arrangements with regional and international bodies to enhance Phivolcs' modernization efforts and complement national disaster response initiatives.

Cayetano, chairman of the Senate Committee on Science and Technology, emphasized that the bill will be a crucial step toward strengthening the country’s disaster preparedness and response.

“What we can do is to be prepared, warn people, and of course what we can do is honor God’s creation by protecting nature,” the senator said.

“Through this bill, we will enable Phivolcs to modernize, hire the people they need, to provide career paths for them, and of course, to provide the equipment that they need,” the lawmaker emphasized.