Palace on ex-Pagasa chief retirement: Good luck

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang yesterday welcomed the decision of former weather bureau administrator Prisco Nilo to retire early from government service. 

“We thank him for the service that he has rendered to the Filipino people and we wish him luck in the next phase of his life and career,” said deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte in a news conference at the Palace. After the blunder in the forecasting of the direction of typhoon “Basyang” last July, President Aquino relieved Nilo from his post in August and transferred him to the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).     

Valte denied insinuations that Malacañang is making it hard for Nilo to process his retirement papers. 

“There is no directive to that effect or anything. Hindi naman po iniipit si Mr. Nilo (We are not making it hard for Mr. Nilo). DOST Secretary Mario Montejo has already said that he had chosen to act preferably on Mr. Nilo’s request and that he wishes him luck,” she said. 

Last Oct. 15, during the awarding rites for the 2010 most outstanding public officials and employees, Mr. Aquino told state employees not to emulate a “friend” of his.                     

In a chance interview after the event, Mr. Aquino admitted that he was indeed referring to Nilo. 

Last July, Nilo failed to inform the public that typhoon Basyang had changed course and would hit Metro Manila instead of Northern Luzon.  

“He (Nilo) refused to own up to the mistakes and he did not correct the situation. And he kept blaming other factors for the failure,” Mr. Aquino said. “It is not arguable that we have a lot better equipment than what existed in World War II or even in the Korean War, and they were able to predict the weather properly.” 

The employees of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) were saddened by Nilo’s early retirement from the service.

“We regret the resignation of Dr. Nilo. His contribution in the field of meteorology will be treasured much by PAGASA people,” said Ramon Agustin, president of the Philippine Weathermen Employees Association (PWEA), in a text message to The STAR.

“Even if we are saddened by his undue departure from the service, our men and women will continue to serve our country with competence and dedication,” he added. 

Science Secretary Montejo had endorsed Nilo’s request for retirement effective last Oct. 31. 

“With sadness, I have decided to grant his request,” Montejo said in statement issued yesterday. 

In his letter to Montejo dated Oct. 29, Nilo expressed gratitude to the government for giving him “the opportunity to be in the public service for about 26 years.”

He, however, did not state his reasons for filing for early retirement.

There are speculations that Nilo has found a new job in Australia.

The news website of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines reported yesterday that Nilo left for Australia last Nov. 2.                                                                                     

“I have opted for early retirement because the present government did not stop marginalizing me,” Nilo said in an article posted on the website.

Science Undersecretary Fortunato de la Peña, Nilo’s immediate supervisor, could not confirm if the former weather chief has left the country.

“I have no knowledge, what I experienced is that I got no response from him anymore when I texted him yesterday. Until Nov. 2 we were still exchanging messages,” De la Peña told The STAR.

Even officials of Pagasa’s Public Information Unit have no information if Nilo had indeed accepted a job abroad.

Early this year, former Pagasa deputy administrator and spokesman Nathaniel Cruz also left Pagasa to work for Australia’s Bureau of Meteorology. 

Nilo, 54, joined Pagasa in March 1984 as a meteorologist. He was appointed Pagasa director in November 2007 by former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. 

In a previous interview, Montejo said Nilo performed below standard as head of the weather bureau. 

The President, on the other hand, said there were “irreconcilable differences” between Montejo and Nilo. – With Helen Flores