Pagasa chief replaced over 'Basyang' booboo

MANILA, Philippines - Citing “cultural differences,” President Aquino replaced the head of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) with a career official from the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

Chief weather forecaster Prisco Nilo has been transferred to become an undersecretary of the DOST, while Graciano Yumul – an undersecretary and spokesman of DOST – will take the place of Nilo, a veteran career forecaster.

Science Secretary Mario Montejo said Nilo was moved to the DOST main office in Bicutan, Taguig City to head an office of special studies.

“He (Nilo) will be under the office of (DOST) Usec. Fortunato dela Peña, he will maintain the same rank as director,” Montejo told The STAR in a phone interview.

Asked for comment, Nilo said, “I was reassigned and please don’t ask me why.”

Montejo said Yumul will be heading the state-run weather bureau for the next three months, until they find his replacement.

“There is marching order from the President to improve the Pagasa program and we feel that Yumul will implement it better,” he said.

“We will be choosing the new Pagasa head in the next three months... we have a shortlist of possible successors of Nilo, some are from the weather agency, while some are from the private sector,” Montejo said.

It was not clear, however, how Yumul, a geologist, could improve operations in a weather forecasting agency. The geophysics function of Pagasa was already transferred to the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology.  

Montejo said they chose Yumul because he once headed Pagasa.

Yumul has a wide background in geology. He is one of the 1996 Ten Outstanding Young Men (TOYM) awardees for geological science and currently teaches at the University of the Philippines’ National Institute of Geological Science.

P-Noy: It’s not black magic

President Aquino said he hopes that there will be significant improvements in the way the weather bureau has been giving out its reports, which has – almost always – been mechanical over the years.

“Basically, it’s because of the differences between DOST and Pagasa. The way it was explained to me, part of it is cultural. Basically, it’s a cultural thing,” Mr. Aquino told Palace reporters.

The President cited the case of Naga City, which for years has not been depending on Pagasa’s weather forecast, but had been getting information from more reliable sources like the Internet, which appeared to be more accurate.

“According to (former Naga) mayor (and now Interior Secretary Jesse) Robredo, he has yet to fail,” Mr. Aquino said. “Weather prediction is not really black magic.”

To make it even more circumspect, the Chief Executive went as far back as World War II, when American General Douglas MacArthur and his group had managed to plan weeks ahead, despite the fact that the equipment then was way older than what the bureau has at present.

Mr. Aquino also said that his initial report on typhoon “Basyang” was a testament of such, when he had been apprised that the pattern of the winds was going in this direction, but would divert at the last minute.

Last June 14, an irritated President scolded weather bureau officials 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.

“That information is sorely lacking and we have had this problem for quite a long time. You do what you are supposed to do. This is not acceptable. I hope this is the last time that we are all brought to areas different from where we should be,” he said.

The Chief Executive reminded them as well that they are the source of information of the public when it comes to weather disturbances, which will directly affect their lives.

“We rely on you to tell us where the potential problems are. All the agencies have adequately met their responsibilities at this point in time but your information is sorely lacking,” Aquino said in an emergency meeting at the NDCC headquarters in Camp Aguinaldo. - With Helen Flores