Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS; Tagalog pronunciation: [ˈfivolks]; Filipino: Surian ng Pilipinas sa Bulkanolohiya at Sismolohiya[2]) is a Philippine national institution dedicated to provide information on the activities of volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis, as well as other specialized information and services primarily for the protection of life and property and in support of economic, productivity, and sustainable development. It is one of the service agencies of the Department of Science and Technology.

Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology
Agency overview
FormedSeptember 17, 1982 (1982-09-17)
Preceding agencies
  • Commission on Volcanology (COMVOL)
  • Philippine Institute of Volcanology (PHIVOLC)
JurisdictionPhilippines
HeadquartersC.P. Garcia Avenue, UP Campus, Diliman, Quezon City
14°39′6.94″N 121°3′30.68″E
Annual budget₱588.12 million (2020)[1]
Agency executive
  • Usec. Renato U. Solidum Jr., Director
Parent agencyDepartment of Science and Technology
Websitewww.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph

PHIVOLCS monitors volcano, earthquake, and tsunami activity, and issues warnings as necessary. It is mandated to mitigate disasters that may arise from such volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other related geotectonic phenomena.[3]

History

This government organization was formed after a historical merging of official functions of government institutions.

One of its first predecessors is the Philippine Weather Bureau created in 1901 when meteorological, seismological and terrestrial magnetic services of the Manila Observatory were transferred from the Roman Catholic Church to the American Colonial Government. It performed earthquake monitoring in the country and has inherited and maintained the early earthquake catalogue at that time. By 1972, the Philippine Weather Bureau was reorganized under Presidential Decree No. 78 into the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). A UNDP-funded project for PAGASA established a twelve-station earthquake monitoring network in the country.

The other predecessor to PHIVOLCS, the Commission on Volcanology (COMVOL) was created on June 20, 1952 by Republic Act no. 766 after the disastrous eruption of Hibok-Hibok Volcano in 1952. Under Executive Order no. 784 of March 17, 1982, the umbrella department of COMVOL, the National Science Development Board (NSDB) was reorganized into the National Science and Technology Authority (NSTA), and COMVOL was restructured to become the Philippine Institute of Volcanology or PHIVOLC.

The seismological arm of PAGASA was officially transferred to PHIVOLC on September 17, 1984, renaming the institute as the Philippines Institute of Volcanology and Seismology or PHIVOLCS. NSTA, the umbrella department for PHIVOLCS and PAGASA, became the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in 1987. The technical staff and the 12-station earthquake monitoring network was fully integrated to PHIVOLCS in 1988.

PHIVOLCS was headed by Raymundo Punongbayan from 1982 to 2003, and it is currently headed by Renato U. Solidum Jr. from 2003 to the present.

Classification of volcanoes in the Philippines
In 1984, pyroclastic flows descend the south-eastern flank of Mayon Volcano, the most active volcano in the Philippines

The Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology provides a classification system for the volcanoes of the country.[4]

Active
Main article: List of active volcanoes in the Philippines
Mt.Isarog, an potentially active volcano in the Phillppines

Potentially active
Mt. Arayat, an inactive volcano in the Philippines.
Main article: List of potentially active volcanoes in the Philippines
  • Active solfataras, fumaroles, or steaming activity
  • Geologically young, possibly erupted < 10,000 years and for calderas and large systems, possibly < 25,000 years.
  • Young-looking geomorphology (thin soil cover or sparse vegetation; low degree of erosion and dissection; young vent features; with or without vegetation cover).
  • Suspected seismic activity.
  • Documented local ground deformation.
  • Geochemical indicators of magmatic involvement.
  • Geophysical proof of magma bodies.
  • Strong connection with subduction zones and external tectonic settings.

Inactive
Main article: List of inactive volcanoes in the Philippines
  • No record of eruption and its form is beginning to change by the agents of weathering and erosion via formation of deep and long gullies.

See also

References
  1. Aika Rey (January 8, 2020). "Where will the money go?". Rappler. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
  2. Narvaez, Eilene Antoinette; Macaranas, Edgardo, eds. (2013). Mga Pangalan ng Tanggapan ng Pamahalaan sa Filipino (PDF) (in Filipino) (2013 ed.). Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino. p. 30. ISBN 978-971-0197-22-4. Retrieved December 27, 2018.
  3. "About PHIVOLCS". PHIVOLCS website. Retrieved December 4, 2008.
  4. "Volcano General Information"

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