Seismic equipment for volcano monitoring of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHILVOCS) was stolen today, August 6.

The Pinatubo Volcano Observatory (PVO) personnel discovered that the seismic vault of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) at San Jose Observation Station (VPSJ) in San Jose, Tarlac, was forced open, and some equipment was missing.

Solar batteries worth approximately 70,000 pesos, a state-of-the-art Kinemetrics Q330HRS+ Quanterra digitizer worth approximately 1.144 million pesos, are among the items stolen from the site.

Solar batteries are used to store electricity generated by solar panels, intending to provide power, while Quanterra digitizer is a specialized electronic device used to convert analog signals from sensors, particularly seismic sensors, into digital data. This digital data is then used for monitoring volcanoes and earthquakes.

VPSJ operates state-of-the-art Kinemetrics, which is used for seismic monitoring solutions, to detect early warning systems, strong motion instruments, and comprehensive data acquisition and processing systems.

According to the Press Release by PHILVOLCS-DOST, the stolen items were critical equipment for observing the Pinatubo Volcano and for detecting tectonic earthquakes for the Philippine Seismic Network.

This is the third theft incident in VPSJ where solar panels were stolen in October and December 2024.