DOST chief threatens to quit, if...

MANILA, Philippines — Science Secretary Fortunato dela Peña threatened to resign if two agencies under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) are transferred to the proposed disaster resilience department. 

Dela Peña had rejected the proposal to remove from his agency’s supervision the weather bureau and the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (Phivolcs), to be placed under the planned Department of Disaster Resilience (DDR).

Dela Peña said that if the proposal to remove administrative control of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) and Phivolcs from DOST is implemented, he will resign from his post.

“Nakakalungkot pag ginawa nila yun. Magre-resign na lang ako (I am saddened, I will just resign),” Dela Peña told The STAR.

Dela Peña said that the two agencies belong to the DOST because they are science and technology agencies.

“They do a lot of research. Hindi lang naman forecasting ang trabaho nila. Marami silang dine-develop na technologies (Forecasting is not their only job, they also develop other technologies),” Dela Peña pointed out. 

Dela Peña earlier expressed his opposition to the plan to transfer the two agencies to the proposed disaster department during the opening of the regional science and technology week in Albay. 

Dela Peña appointed Phivolcs director Renato Solidum as undersecretary for disaster risk reduction and climate change. 

In his State of the Nation Address last month, President Duterte urged Congress to pass a law that will create a department to focus on disaster management. 

The bill is currently pending at the House of Representatives and the Senate. 

Dela Peña said that he did not mean to create trouble by saying he will resign if the proposal was pursued.

“That’s how I am. Whatever I feel in my chest, I say it out. And that’s how I feel. I’ll just go away if they go ahead with that,” he said. – With Janvic Mateo, Ghio Ong