Congrats, PAGASA!

In case you’ve forgotten or are not aware, the PAGASA in DOST-PAGASA stands for the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical  Services Administration and they have clearly served many Filipinos well.

PAGASA has become indispensable by providing a good amount of information regarding storms, tropical depression, habagat-induced rainfall, floods and potential landslides.

I say congratulations to PAGASA because the agency’s performance and reputation have greatly improved compared to a decade or two ago. Although weather forecasting is not an absolute or perfect science, PAGASA has consistently given us information on what to expect not just for the day but for three to seven days even.

Don’t listen to Chronic Critics or unqualified commentators who put down institutions so they can practice the art of “PARA MEMA” or “Para Meron lang Masabi.”

Just by watching some of the online comments on the PAGASA Facebook page you can tell already tell that in spite of being told that habagat winds will induce continuous rainfall, these MEMAs ask why the rain in their area has not stopped.

Yes, there have been days when the weather moves contrary to the forecast which, by the way, is an educated guess with more science in it than a whim.

You expect rain but the sun shines or people complain that suspending classes was a waste. But that is life, that is nature and instead of whining, make the best of it or deal with it.

My own trust or reliance on PAGASA’s forecasts have determined where I go, when I go and how I go for long trips as well as in Metro Manila. Just last week, we had guests from Singapore who made plans to drive out to Zambales where orange rainfall alerts, habagat-driven rain and floodings were expected.

We strongly advised our guests to take the tourist bus to their destination because the ride height of the bus makes it best for driving through floods. We take all these for granted and after you are soaked, then you realize you ignored PAGASA’s advice.

I have been monitoring the PAGASA updates and in the last month, their forecasts have been on target and have helped farm owners better prepare and secure their properties in terms of monitoring flooding, potential wind damage as well installing more security equipment such as flood lights, etc.

Flood warnings and torrential rain forecasts are what now help vehicle owners so they can bring their cars to the malls or to higher ground. Landslide warnings, especially up north, is something you don’t ignore after what happened in Nepal, which could easily happen when three months’ worth of rain falls in three weeks!

The PAGASA weather forecasts also help air travelers prepare for bumpy flights, delayed take offs or the merry-go-round approach of planes into NAIA. Our guests from Singapore told us that their flight was delayed and took a while circling over Metro Manila.

Nowadays, having Bonamine and showing up three hours before your flight has become imperative. The last three weeks have been hell in terms of floods, traffic and access to numerous destinations such as the airport.

While everybody is crying and complaining about the incessant rainfall and floods, wait until PAGASA forecasts a super typhoon or even just the regular seasonal bagyo that hits the Philippines with regularity.

After the first “siyam-siyam” and projected strong winds caused by habagat as reported by PAGASA, we immediately got busy securing our solar panels in Pasig and in Lipa. Nothing fancy, just the right amount of rope made into a net to tie down the panels and reduce lift or take off.

True to form, PAGASA’s forecast was confirmed by howling winds that blew intermittently in Barrio Kapitolyo, Pasig. I know well enough that such howlers result in roofs taking off, trees being split and flying debris that can kill.

After recognizing the invaluable contributions of the DOST and PAGASA to the entire nation, the question is how much support and recognition are they getting from the public and the national government?

I think it was only after the devastation of Super Typhoon Haiyan a.k.a Yolanda did government officials, members of Congress and the public in general agree that our weather forecasting capability and technology needed serious upgrade and investments.

President Bongbong Marcos spoke about sending a spaceship or was it a rocket into space in his recent SONA. Instead of trying to join the elite outer space club composed of the US, Russia, China, India, Elon Musk and Sir Richard Branson, might I suggest we keep our feet planted on Philippine soil and improve what we actually can.

I decided to congratulate and compliment DOST-PAGASA for their work because we all know that public recognition, acknowledgement and complimenting people and organizations for doing the right stuff always results in even greater outcomes.

Hopefully, our collective recognition and praise of DOST-PAGASA will discourage or prevent politicians and non-scientists from snipping away at the budget of DOST-PAGASA like they did to budgets of state universities and colleges.

I am convinced that the DOST as a whole and PAGASA in particular are under-appreciated by other government officials and this has resulted in underfunding and utilization of the best minds, knowledge and resources that Filipinos can benefit from.

Support PAGASA!

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