Question & AnswerQ&A (Republic Act No. 6613)
The main policy declared by Republic Act No. 6613 is to adopt typhoon moderation and flood control research and development programs for moderating typhoons by reducing their intensity and minimizing the destructive effects of floods, rains, and droughts through scientific means to prevent widespread devastation to property and protect the people and national security.
The government is to undertake research on the structure, development, and motion of typhoons; improve prediction methods for typhoons and floods; gather climatological and hydrological data; utilize scientific measures to reduce typhoon intensity and flood destruction; and study the environmental impacts of these measures to adopt necessary precautions.
The Council is created under the Office of the President to implement the typhoon moderation and flood control research and development programs. It is tasked with developing and coordinating the programs, advising the President, and representing the government in related matters.
The Council is 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.
The Council is to develop and formulate a research and development program, monitor implementation, coordinate government activities and resources, advise the President on disaster mitigation, represent the government in conferences, submit annual reports to Congress, and recommend necessary legislation.
The Weather Bureau serves as the implementing arm of the Council. Its Director acts as the Executive Director of the Council. The Bureau is responsible for establishing and maintaining meteorological stations and research centers and coordinating operations, including utilizing aircraft with assistance from the Philippine Air Force.
The Act appropriates ten million pesos out of the National Treasury for initial implementation and an additional ten million pesos annually for the next four years. Four million one hundred thousand pesos annually are specifically allocated for purchasing and operating aircraft to carry out the Act's purposes.
The regions of Western Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and Southern Mindanao, which are not covered by the existing weather radar network, shall be given priority in the installation of radar stations.
The government is tasked to gather and organize climatological and hydrological data to aid in flood prevention and control and support agro-industrial development.
The Act took effect upon its approval on October 23, 1972.