THE House of Representatives under the leadership on Wednesday unanimously passed on third and final reading House Bill (HB) 10730, providing for the modernization of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS).
The bill, which shall be known as the PHIVOLCS Modernization Act and principally authored by Rep. Carlito Marquez received 183 affirmative votes.
Under the bill, the modernization shall entail the improvement of PHIVOLCS’ technological operational capacity, thereby strengthening its role to mitigate disasters arising from volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunami and other related geotectonic phenomena.
The bill also seeks to enable the agency to realize its vision to become a center of excellence for related information services.
HB 10730 provides for the creation of the PHIVOLCS Modernization Fund in the amount of P7 billion, to be sourced from the national government’s share in the net income from Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, Bases Conversion and Development Authority, Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority, Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines, Philippine Ports Authority and the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation.
The House also ratified the bicameral conference committee report on the disagreeing provisions of HB 6574 and SB 2200 or the “Basic Education Mental Health and Well-Being Promotion Act”.
The House also expressed its profound sympathies and sincerest condolences to ACT-CIS Party-list Reps. Erwin Tulfo and Jocelyn Tulfo, Quezon City 2nd District Rep. Wendel Tulfo, as well as to Lone District, Dinagat Islands Rep. Alan Ecleo, for the passing of their mothers.
The House’s condolences are embodied in House Resolutions 1982, 1989, and 1997.
Moreover, the House designated committee on public accounts chairperson Rep. Joseph Stephen “Caraps” Paduano as legislative caretaker of the 3rd District of Negros Occidental following the appointment of Rep. Franciso “Kiko” Benitez as director general of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
Deputy Speaker Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco presided over Wednesday’s plenary session
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