PAGASA chief resigns

MANILA, Philippines - The head of the government's weather bureau, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), has resigned.

Director Raymund Liboro,PAGASA spokesperson, said that Undersecretary Graciano Yumul submitted his resignation on Monday, March 11, 2012.

Liboro said that Yumul's resignation was effective immediately.

He said that Yumul was actually availing of the optional retirement. Aside from leaving PAGASA, he is also resigning as undersecretary of the Department of Science and Technology.

Liboro said the reason behind the official's resignation was personal.

"He's a tough cookie and would not give in easily to pressure," Liboro said in a phone interview with Philstar.com.

He said Yumul, who also quit as undersecretary of the Department of Science and Technology, has been in government service for 28 years.

Liboro said Dr. Amelia Cervando of the DOST's Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, Technology Research and Development will assume as acting head of PAGASA.

Yumul replaced then Pagasa chief Dr. Prisco Nilo, who was fired after earning the ire of President Benigno Aquino III because of the agency's allegedly inaccurate weather forecast in 2010. – Dennis Carcamo