Creating a Council on Typhoon Moderation and Flood Control Research and Development

October 23, 1972

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 6613

AN ACT DECLARING A POLICY OF THE STATE TO ADOPT MODERN SCIENTIFIC METHODS TO MODERATE TYPHOONS AND PREVENT DESTRUCTION BY FLOODS, RAINS AND DROUGHTS, CREATING A COUNCIL ON TYPHOON MODERATION AND FLOOD CONTROL RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT, PROVIDING FOR ITS POWERS AND FUNCTIONS AND APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR

SECTION 1. It is hereby declared to be the policy of the State to adopt a typhoon moderation and flood control research and development program for moderating typhoons by reducing their intensity and minimizing the destructive effects of floods, rains and droughts through scientific means, for the purpose of preventing widespread devastation to property and protecting the people and security of the nation.

SECTION 2. In order to carry out the foregoing policy, the government shall:

(a) Undertake research on the structure, development and motion of typhoons;

(b) Improve means of predicting typhoons and consequential floods;

(c) Gather and organize climatological and hydrological data for flood prevention and control and for agro-industrial development; acd

(d) Utilize scientific measures to minimize the intensity of typhoons and destruction by floods, rains and droughts; and

(e) Study the environmental impact of such measures and adopt necessary precautions to prevent loss or destruction.

SECTION 3. To implement the provisions of this Act, there is hereby created a Council on Typhoon Moderation and Flood Control Research and Development under the Office of the President, hereinafter referred to as the "Council". The Council shall be composed of the Executive Secretary as Chairman ex-officio, the Secretary of National Defense as Vice-Chairman ex-officio, the Chairman of the National Science Development Board, the Secretary of Public Works and Communications, the Secretary of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Undersecretary of Foreign Affairs, and the Director of the Weather Bureau, as members ex-officio.

The Council shall develop and formulate a typhoon moderation and flood control research and development program within one year after the approval of this Act and shall monitor its implementation. It shall coordinate planning and programming of all government activities and resources in relation thereto. It shall advise the President on measures to prevent or mitigate damage arising from typhoons, floods, rains and droughts. It shall represent the government on all matters pertinent to the research and development provided for in this Act in national, regional and international conferences. cdt

The Council shall submit annually a report of its activities, together with a statement of the funds released to it and the expenditures made therefrom, to the presiding officers of both Houses of Congress and to the respective chairmen of the committees on science, agriculture, natural resources, public works, communications, national defense, and security of both Houses. The report shall include a description of all projects monitored by the Council indicating their status. The Council shall recommend to Congress such legislation as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 4. The Weather Bureau, hereinafter referred to as the "Bureau", shall be the implementing arm of the Council. The Director of said Bureau shall be the Executive Director of the Council.

The Bureau shall establish, install, operate and maintain climatological and hydrological stations, synoptic stations, radar stations, upper air stations (radiosonde and radiowind), automatic picture transmission ground stations, a weather communications network and warning system, and a research center using computers, aircraft and other modern devices. Insofar as possible, such stations shall be grouped together so as to assure maximum economy and efficiency. The Philippine Air Force shall assist the Bureau in air operations.

In the installation of radar stations, the regions of Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao and Southern Mindanao which are not covered by the present weather radar network shall be given priority.

SECTION 5. The sum of ten million (P10,000,000.00) is hereby appropriated out of any funds in the National Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and an additional appropriation of ten million pesos (P10,000,000.00) annually shall be included in the General Appropriations Act for each of the next four years, to carry into effect the provisions of this Act: Provided, That the sum of Four Million One Hundred Thousand Pesos, or so much of the appropriations as may be necessary, shall be set aside annually to be used exclusively for the purchase and operation of the type of aircraft required to carry out the purposes of this Act.

SECTION 6. This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

Approved: October 23, 1972

Published in the Official Gazette, Vol. 69, No. 8, p. 1477 on February 19, 1973