More PAGASA weathermen become OFWs

MANILA, Philippines — After the state weather bureau's chief opted to work abroad last year, more PAGASA employees resigned to serve another government, a weathermen's group said Tuesday.

Philippine Weathermen Employees Association president Ramon Agustin said in a radio report that weather forecasters Bernie de Leon and Ralph Ricahuerta as well as communications engineer Ralph Suquila grew tired of waiting for their hazard pays and decided to quit.

The three left Sunday to work for the Qatar Meteorology Department, a counterpart of PAGASA.

De Leon and Ricahuerta will work as airport weather forecasters in Qatar while Suquila will serve as communications specialist.

Agustin said that the former PAGASA personnel deferred their plans to resign last year when government vowed to turn over their extra pay for working in high-risk conditions.

The three, however, waited for six months but the compensation had not been settled. Their longevity pay and subsistence allowance, meanwhile, will only be given in June.

As weather forecasters, De Leon and Ricahuerta were paid anywhere from P17,209 to P26,868 a month.

Agustin said among De Leon's contributions to PAGASA is his rainfall warning system, while Ricohuerta administers the doppler radar and met satellite system. Suquila, meanwhile, is a major team player in Ninoy Aquino International Airport's aviation meteorology service.

In June 2013, former PAGASA Administrator Nathaniel Servando also left for Qatar for a teaching job, where he would reportedly earn P600,000 a month--a far cry from his monthly salary of P68,428 in the weather agency.

Also read: Pagasa chief quits, becomes OFW

Government weathermen have been leaving for better opportunities abroad for the past 10 years. - Camille Diola