Weathermen stage protest

MANILA, Philippines - Wearing black armbands and carrying placards, employees of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) staged a protest yesterday over unpaid benefits.

Ramon Agustin, president of the Philippine Weathermen Employees Association, said they would also hold a noise barrage on Friday.

Agustin called on President Aquino to order the release of their benefits, which has been suspended since March.

The protest apparently prompted the President to make a surprise visit to PAGASA yesterday afternoon.

The President assured PAGASA personnel that the government is working to address their concerns even as he urged them not to abandon their posts as the country braces for tropical storm “Helen.”

Aquino arrived at the PAGASA office at around 4 p.m. with Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, Science Secretary Mario Montejo and Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma.

“I came here to remind you, especially, that we have adverse climate and a weather disturbance. The flood victims are worried. We should not add to that,” Aquino said.

Earlier in the day, during a press conference at the PAGASA forecasting center in Quezon City, Agustin said many PAGASA employees, including weather forecasters, were not reporting for work because they do not have money even for transportation.

“We are humbly appealing to President Aquino to save us from this plight,” Agustin said.

He said the healthcare insurance provider of PAGASA also terminated its contract last month because employees could no longer pay the monthly premium.

Agustin blamed the delay in the release of their benefits for the death of a weather observer last May 24.

He said Alex San Pedro, a diabetic, died of stroke because he could no longer buy his medicine.

In Republic Act 8439, or the Magna Carta for Scientists, Engineers, Researchers and Other Science and Technology Personnel in Government, concerned employees should receive benefits, longevity and hazard pay and SALA (subsistence allowance and laundry allowance).

Agustin said Science Secretary Mario Montejo earlier assured PAGASA employees that their benefits would be released this month. PAGASA is an attached agency of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

“We don’t have holidays. We work even on Christmas and New Year. We work everyday,” said Jori Loiz, weather forecaster for 16 years.

“How would you be able to support a high school and a college student with only P12,000 a month,” Loiz added.

Jobs abroad

At least 22 weather forecasters quit their jobs at PAGASA from 2005 to 2011 for better paying jobs abroad.

There are 31 vacancies for weather specialist 1 at the bureau as of June.

Many PAGASA weather forecasters were hired in other parts of Asia, the Middle East and Australia.

Former PAGASA chief Prisco Nilo, who was sacked for failing to come up with an accurate forecast for storm “Basyang” which battered Metro Manila and nearby areas in 2010, had reportedly left for a job in Australia.

Former PAGASA director Nathaniel Cruz, who was hired as resident meteorologist of GMA News, also used to work at the Bureau of Meteorology of Australia.

PAGASA research and development division deputy administrator Flaviana Hilario said the pay abroad could be five times higher.

The President urged the employees to ensure that their work is not disrupted.

“There’s a big change since we started. The public has so much trust in the agency and they’re depending on you if those in evacuation centers can go home. And if they go home, if they can be assured that they would have ample warning,” the President added.

The President said the grant of pay increases would be “fair” only for those who are in hazardous posts.

“On the issue of hazard pay, there must be some rhyme and reason. When all these details are ironed out – who are entitled to hazard pay, who are not – we can include this in our request in the budget to fund all these so it could be made permanent,” Aquino said.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the issue on the hazard pay of weather specialists is already with the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).

“This is a problem for 2012 because just as by way of background, the hazard pay in previous years has always been dependent on the savings of an agency,” Valte said.

Valte said the DBM is checking the state of the expenses and the savings of the agency, adding that they would study the demands of the weathermen for the release of their other benefits.

Valte said the President commended the state weather bureau for keeping up with their responsibilities of informing the public on the weather condition, especially during weather disturbances.

“Our forecasters have always risen to the occasion. They have never put the public in jeopardy... Certainly, we understand their concerns, that is why the DOST is coordinating with PAGASA,” she said.

She said the President also acknowledged DOST-PAGASA’s efforts to use easily understandable terms in its weather advisories.

Coloma met with Montejo and other PAGASA officials yesterday to discuss how to make the weather forecasts more understandable.

He said the government media entities PTV 4and Radio-TV Malacañang would be used to provide hourly weather updates during tropical cyclones. – With Aurea Calica