Recto alarmed over exodus of weather forecasters

MANILA, Philippines - Sen. Ralph Recto expressed concern yesterday over the report that there have been 32 employees, mostly weather forecasters, who have left the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) since 2005.

“From 2005 up to the present, there are already 32 personnel who have gone abroad, most of them are forecasters, few are sub-professional level,” PAGASA officer-in-charge Vicente Malano told the Senate committee on science and technology during a public hearing.

Recto said the Senate committee is conducting the public hearings to speed up modernization of the PAGASA to “restore hope” for the agency. 

The committee also heard measures that would increase the hazard pay for all science and technology personnel in the government.

During the hearing, Recto manifested that the hazard pay should be placed at 30 percent across the board.

Assistant Secretary Oswald Santos of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) was optimistic that the proposal will lift the morale of employees “because it will definitely solve or address our problem of brain drain.”

Santos revealed there were also reports that some staff members from the Advance Science and Technology Institute (ASTI) are seeking greener pastures abroad.