PRIB: Accurate national measurement system needed to help mitigate disasters - Sen. Bam

Saying that measurement is an invaluable tool for promoting safety of the people, Senator Bam Aquino has introduced a bill proposing to upgrade the country's national measurement system. "While we must urgently review and improve building standards, we must also make sure that our measuring tools are accurate to avoid damage during disasters," the senator said. Senate Bill No. 2141, introduced by Aquino, is calling for the modernization of the Department of Science and Technology's National Metrological Division (NMD) which is tasked with ensuring precision, accuracy and reliability of the measurements and measuring instruments in the country. "Measurement is an invaluable tool for people in the conduct of daily activities, work and interactions. Inaccurate measurements and unreliable measuring instruments may result to illness, injustice, low quality, short change and damage," Aquino said.

The measure, according to Aquino, aims to empower the body tasked with ensuring the precision, accuracy and reliability of the measurements and measuring instruments in the country by transforming the NMD into the National Measurement Institute of the Philippines (NMPhil).

Under the measure, the NMPhil shall be responsible for maintaining and updating the national measurement standards in all relevant fields in the country. It shall also be designated as the country's national metrology institute, which shall be attached to the DOST for policy, program coordination and administrative supervision.

The NMPhil shall also periodically undertake metrological activities, calibration, re-calibration and other related activities to effectively undertake its functions, duties and responsibilities, and comply with international standards, Aquino said.

"Yung instruments ng PAGASA (Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration) at Phivolcs (Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology), kung meron nang NMPhil, hindi na kailangan ng PAGASA at Phivolcs kumuha ng services abroad kasi magkakaroon na tayo ng capacity to do service calibration of these instruments," he explained.

"When we harmonize the country's measurement systems in accordance to international best practices, we ensure that measurements in the country are reliable and support confidence in measurements for regulation, trade and manufacturing," Aquino added. A National Metrological Training Center shall also be established under the NMPhil to undertake training on metrology for the capacity building of calibration laboratories, national regulators, local government units and other entities responsible for implementing legal metrological controls in the country.

"When we implement legal metrological controls for measuring instruments in the country, we also promote fair trade, health, safety, law enforcement and environment protection," Aquino also said.