Weathermen respect P-Noy's decision to replace Pagasa head

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Weathermen Employees Association (PWEA) respects the decision of President Aquino to replace Prisco Nilo as head of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), the union’s president said yesterday.

“After an emergency meeting, the PWEA for the meantime will respect the decision of President Aquino. This is for the interest of all employees and Pagasa as an institution itself,” PWEA president Ramon Agustin said in a text message to The STAR.

“While we are saddened by the replacement of Dr. Nilo, the welfare of our employees and the institution will remain to be the prime concern of PWEA,” Agustin said.

Nilo was relieved as Pagasa administrator last Friday, supposedly for errors in a past weather forecast.

Science Secretary Mario Montejo earlier said Nilo would be assigned to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) where he will do some special studies.

Science Undersecretary Graciano Yumul was designated Pagasa’s officer-in-charge for three months, Montejo said.

Agham party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones over the weekend appealed to Mr. Aquino to reconsider his decision to replace Nilo.

“The real problem of Pagasa is their equipment and not its weather forecasters,” Palmones said in an interview.

He said that despite opportunities from other weather offices abroad, Nilo and the remaining experts in Pagasa opted to stay in the country despite low compensation.

“I am appealing to the President to reconsider his decision to relieve Prisco Nilo as the head of Pagasa. There might be an insufficiency in his qualification because his CESO (Career Executive Service Officer) eligibility has not yet been confirmed. But I hope the executive department could see how dedicated the employees of Pagasa, particularly Nilo, are especially when there is typhoon,” Palmones said.

Agustin said 24 seasoned weather forecasters have left the country for high-paying jobs abroad in the past 10 years.

The latest to leave the weather agency was Pagasa’s deputy administrator for operations and services and spokesman Nathaniel Cruz, who was recruited by Australia’s weather agency.