Pagasa loses another weather expert

MANILA, Philippines - The country has lost another veteran meteorologist to a better-paying job in the Middle East and more are expected to follow if the government will not address the economic plight of weathermen, the head of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA)’s union warned yesterday.

Christopher Galang, PAGASA weather observer, has resigned from the agency to work in Qatar, according to Philippine Weathermen Employees Association (PWEA) president Ramon Agustin.

Galang has served PAGASA for more than 20 years. He was hired by the Qatar Bureau of Meteorology to join three other personnel who recently left the state weather bureau.

Bernie de Leon and Ralph Ricahuerta were hired as airport forecasters by the Qatar Bureau of Meteorology, and Ralph Soquila as communication specialist.

Last year, former PAGASA administrator Nathaniel Servando left the agency to work in Qatar.

At present, the agency has 13 forecasters manning PAGASA operations.

“We have replacements for them but it will take some time before they become experts in forecasting,” Agustin said.

He said there are three more weathermen who received offers to work in the Middle East.

“I’m not sure if they will accept the offer this year,” he said.

Agustin cited the low salaries and delay in the payment of benefits as among the reasons forecasters leave the agency.

He said the delay in Magna Carta benefits could be addressed if the budget was included in the government’s annual general appropriations.

Agustin also pushed for the passage of the PAGASA Modernization Bill, which mandates the increase in the base pay and benefits of the agency’s personnel to encourage them to continue on their jobs and to avert a brain drain.

The bill was recently approved on second reading at the House of Representatives.– With Paolo Romero