Malacañang not worried about exodus of PAGASA weathermen

MANILA, Philippines - The Aquino administration is confident that there is still enough manpower in the state weather bureau amid the reported exodus of meteorologists, including Dr. Nathaniel Servando, the agency's administrator.

 

Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said there are newly hired weather forecasters at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

 

"Confident naman po tayo dun sa kakayahan ng mga forecasters natin," Valte said. "We have new forecasters that are coming in and are also looking out to prove their mettle and, hopefully, they will work out. Alam naman po nila 'yung atang 'nung responsibilidad din sa kanila."

 

Servando reportedly accepted a teaching job in Dubai as he needed higher salary to finance his children’s college education.

 

At least 22 weather forecasters quit their jobs at PAGASA from 2005 to 2011 for better paying jobs abroad. Related story: Weathermen stage protest

 

"If someone wants--not just the weather forecasters--if someone wants to seek greener pastures for himself or for his family, hindi naman po natin pwedeng pigilan 'yon," said Valte.

 

But for Agham Party-list Rep. Angelo Palmones, money is not the sole reason for the migration of weather experts. He said the government should establish an environment conducive to research and career growth for scientists.

 

"Mas malaki siguro yung punto ng respeto, pagpapahalaga, anong klaseng future ang naghihintay sa kanila," he said in an earlier television interview.

 

But Valte said the government has always trusted and respected the weather bureau.

 

"We in the government have always said that our forecasters can stand up to the test. Nakikita naman po natin 'yan kapag nagkakaroon ng kalamidad, nagkakaroon ng unos, nandyan naman palagi ang mga PAGASA forecasters natin. They bear the brunt of the stress whenever there is any calamity that we go through," said Valte.

 

In 2010, Dr. Prisco Nilo was relieved as PAGASA administrator by President Aquino, supposedly for errors in a forecast for Typhoon Basyang. Related story: Pagasa chief replaced over 'Basyang' booboo

 

Weather bureau officials earned the ire of Aquino for their failure to advise the government of the precise direction of winds brought by Basyang, which directly hit Metro Manila when it was expected to pass through northern Luzon.

 

Palmones had said that “[t]he real problem of PAGASA is their equipment and not its weather forecasters."

 

Last week, Aquino certified as urgent a bill modernizing PAGASA but both Houses of 15th Congress, which has adjourned sine die, failed to pass the legislation. Related story: Congress fails to pass PAGASA modernization bill

 

Meantime, Malacañang assured that the issues on the allowances of PAGASA experts and employees are being addressed.

 

"We hope to see some resolution to [those issues] this year," Valte said.