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Risk Reduction and Preparedness Equipment Protect

The Risk Reduction and Preparedness Equipment Protection Act (RA 10344) was signed into law in 2012 to penalize the unauthorized taking, stealing, keeping or tampering of government equipment used for risk reduction and disaster preparedness. This includes equipment used by agencies like PAGASA and PHIVOLCS to gather data on weather conditions, earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis. The law declares acts like stealing, selling or tampering with such equipment illegal. It also establishes rules on possession of equipment and burden of proof. The goal is to protect monitoring equipment that is crucial for disaster warnings in the Philippines, which faces many natural calamities each year.

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346 views2 pages

Risk Reduction and Preparedness Equipment Protect

The Risk Reduction and Preparedness Equipment Protection Act (RA 10344) was signed into law in 2012 to penalize the unauthorized taking, stealing, keeping or tampering of government equipment used for risk reduction and disaster preparedness. This includes equipment used by agencies like PAGASA and PHIVOLCS to gather data on weather conditions, earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis. The law declares acts like stealing, selling or tampering with such equipment illegal. It also establishes rules on possession of equipment and burden of proof. The goal is to protect monitoring equipment that is crucial for disaster warnings in the Philippines, which faces many natural calamities each year.

Uploaded by

R Arcega
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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"Risk Reduction and Preparedness Equipment Protection Act"

REPUBLIC ACT NO. 10344


An act penalizing the unauthorized taking, stealing, keeping or tampering of government risk
reduction and preparedness equipment, accessories and similar facilities

On December 4, 2012, President Benigno S. Aquino III signed into law Republic Act No. 10344 (“RA
10344”) or the Risk Reduction and Preparedness Equipment Protection Act. This law was passed
pursuant to the policy of the State under Section 17 of Article II of the 1987 Philippine Constitution to
protect the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and
harmony of nature.

Under RA 10344, government risk reduction and preparedness equipment (the “equipment”) refer to
pieces of equipment, or parts thereof of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST),
Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), the
Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS) and the National Disaster Risk
Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) that gather, store, archive or monitor meteorological
and seismological data and information which are analyzed and used to warn the public about
weather conditions, earthquake, volcanic or tsunami activities and similar natural calamities.

On June 25, 2013, the DOST in coordination with the NDRRMC promulgated the Implementing Rules
and Regulations of RA 10344 (the “IRR”). Under the IRR, the following are included in the list of
equipment by the DOST which will be regularly updated:

(a) Weather Radar Surveillance System

(b) Weather Monitoring System

(c) Flood Monitoring Systems

(d) Oceanographic Monitoring System

(e) Earthquake Monitoring System

(f) Volcano Monitoring System

(g) Tsunami Monitoring and Warning Systems

(h) Landslide Monitoring System

(i) Radionuclide Monitoring Equipment

(j) Hazards and Risk Assessment Equipment

(k) Information, Education and Communication Equipment

RA 10344 declares the following acts as prohibited and unlawful:

(a) Steal, or take, or possess any of the equipment, or any part thereof;

(b) Sell or buy stolen equipment or any part thereof;

(c) Tamper, dismantle, or disassemble equipment or any part thereof;

(d) Attempt to commit any of the abovementioned prohibited acts; and


(e) Benefit from the proceeds or fruits of any of the abovementioned prohibited acts knowing that the
proceeds or fruits are derived from the commission of said prohibited acts.

Because of the properties and lives involved, the IRR is strictly construed to attain the efficient and
effective implementation of RA 10344. Under the law, the possession of the equipment, by any
person without proper authority is prima facie evidence that the equipment is the fruit of the offense.
The IRR further states that the burden of proof is on the person to present evidence to establish his
defense that the equipment is not a property of the government.

RA 10344 and its IRR are very important in light of the many natural calamities that hit the Philippines
every year. Over the past ten years, Philippines is one of the top five (5) countries that is most
frequently affected by natural disasters. An average of twenty (20) typhoons enters the Philippines
every year. Moreover, Philippines lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire causing it to feel earthquakes
every now and them. Just recently, a 7.2 earthquake hit Bohol and other cities in the Visayas killing at
least 198 people. RA 10344 and its IRR seek to ensure that the government risk reduction and
preparedness equipment is protected and can readily be accessed to predict natural calamities. With
the passage of RA 10344 and its IRR, it is hoped that the preparedness of the Philippines in terms of
natural disaster management will increase and the number of fatalities lessened, if not eliminated.

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