Pagasa to launch project simplifying weather terminology

DAGUPAN CITY, Philippines — The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astro-nomical Services Administration (PAGASA), through its Public Information Unit (PIU), is set to launch this month a project simplifying weather terminology to enable the public to understand them better.

PAGASA-PIU officer-in-charge Venus Valdemoro said during a seminar workshop for Pangasinan media held here that their group has been tasked to come up with terminologies that would give people a clearer grasp of the language used by weathermen.

The project, supported by Science and Technology Secretary Mario Montejo, is being undertaken by PAGASA with the help of linguists, communication and technical experts.

Part of the project is the holding of seminar workshops with local media.

“We recognize the importance of the media because you are our link to the general public,” Valdemoro said.

Some of the topics discussed during the seminar were Understanding Hydro-meteorological Hazards/Typhoon Tracking Exercise; Flood Forecasting and Warning System for Dam Operation; and Flood Forecasting and Warning System for Basin Operation and Basic Information on Global Warming, Climate Change and Climate Variability.

Valdemoro said they are now tapping the social media through SMS and Twitter, among other social networks, to help relay weather reports as PAGASA only has 864 personnel nationwide.

More benefits

Meantime, the government has increased the benefits received by PAGASA employees annually in a bid to stop the exodus of Filipino weathermen.

The PAGASA management has granted the long-time appeal of its employees’ union for additional benefits.

These include the significant increase of yearly incentives under the Collective Negotiation Agreement (CNA) and the much sought after longevity pay.

DOST Secretary Montejo and Philippine Weathermen Employees Association (PWEA) president Ramon Agustin recently signed the CNA that grants PAGASA workers P10,000 increase in their yearly incentives.

DOST is the mother agency of PAGASA.

Agustin expressed hope that the granting of additional benefits to employees would help address the brain drain besetting the state weather bureau. — With Helen Flores