Section 9Sec./Art. 9

Whole-of-Government and Society Approach. - The Act shall be implemented using a whole-of-government and -society approach to ensure proper and effective coordination of various aspects in disaster risk mitigation and response across all areas of government policy spanning local governance, education, communication, S&T, among other. The PHILVOLCS shall engage with the private sector, civil society, academic community, and other stakeholders to pursue areas of collaboration consistent with Section 5 of this Act. The PHILVOLCS Modernization Program shall be aligned with national policies and priorities. Accordingly, the PHILVOLCS shall:

(a) Incorporate its latest geohazard maps and scientific studies in the appropriate seismic provisions in the National Structural Code of the Philippines and its future revisions;

(b) Include the teaching of volcano, earthquake, tsunami, and other hazards related to geotectonic phenomena as part of the regular school curriculum, in consultation with the Department of Education (DepEd) and other concerned agencies;

(c) Support the development and promotion of volcanology, seismology, and other related courses in state universities and colleges (SUCs) and higher education institutions (HEIs) in communities at risk to active volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis, in coordination with the Commission on Higher Education (CHED);

(d) Collaborate with academic institutions and research organizations by providing technical assistance, sharing data and resources, and supporting studies that promote disaster risk reduction and resilience; and

(e) Closely coordinate with Telecommunications Service Providers (TSPs) in the allocation of ports, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), and other related facilities that will help ensure the unimpeded transmission of critical real-time data to and from PHILVOLCS stations and equipment. The TSPs shall assign a PHILVOLCS counterpart that will ensure the expeditious resolution of concerns crucial to the effective implementation of this Act.