MANILA, Feb. 12 (PNA) — The measure mandating telecommunication firms to provide free mobile alerts during times of calamities passes third and final reading at the House of Representatives.
No abstention and no negative votes, House Bill No. 353 otherwise known as “Free Mobile Disasters Alerts Act of 2013” was approved by 210 solons present.
The measure were penned by Bayan Muna Party-list Reps. Neri Colmenares and Carlos Isagani Zarate.
Under the bill, all mobile phone service providers are mandated to send out alerts at regular intervals on impending tropical storm, typhoon, tsunami, other calamities as required by government agencies tasked in disaster risk control and management.
The alerts will be sent free and directly to mobile phone subscribers located near and within the affected areas.
Under the measure, persons found guilty of sending false or misleading data or information or conceals a material fact in any inquiry shall face imprisonment of not less than six months and pay a maximum fine of P10,000.
If the offender is a corporation, the penalties may range from P1 to P10 million and suspension or revocation of legislative franchise and telecommunications permits.
Authors of the measure noted that on the average at least 19 tropical cyclones enter the Philippine Area of Responsibility with six to nine making landfall.
They also noted that tropical storms “Ondoy” and “Peping” that hit the country in 2010, as well as the Ormoc floods years ago have resulted in the death of thousands of people.
“Many victims blame the government’s lack of proper response to the situation. Often the victims are caught unaware as they were not fully informed of the disaster looming in their midst,” the authors said.
They said full information could save lives and this can be done through mobile phone alerts.
“The ubiquity of mobile phones should be maximized to send out emergency alerts, at no cost to the consumers,” the Bayan Muna party-list solons added. (PNA)