Senate passes PAGASA modernization bill

MANILA, Philippines – The bill to modernize the country’s weather monitoring agency is one step closer to becoming a law.

The Senate has passed its version of the bill to modernize the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

The bill was passed on third and final reading on Monday, August 17, according to Senators Loren Legarda and JV Ejercito, authors of the bill.

The House of Representatives passed its version of the bill in May 2014. With the latest move from the Senate, the reconciliation of the two bills is the next step before it is presented to President Benigno Aquino III for signing.

“This is an important measure that will elevate PAGASA’s technological and operational capacity to effectively perform its mandate to secure the safety and well being of our people and to contribute to national progress,” said Legarda, principal author of the bill.

The bill mandates the upgrading of PAGASA equipment in order to improve accuracy and reliability of weather forecasting and warning services.

This would allow the agency to provide better weather and climate advisories for disaster-preparedness and sectors like agriculture, transportation, fisheries and other industries.

The bill also provides better incentives for PAGASA weather forecasters and personnel.

It creates a new salary scale for PAGASA employees, a retention incentive, a human resource development program, and scholarship programs for undergraduate and graduate studies in Meteorology and other relevant fields.

If passed into law, the Senate’s version will see to the establishment of PAGASA weather service centers in all regions and the creation of a PAGASA Data Center, a repository of historical weather data that can improve accuracy of long-term climate predictions.

“The country is facing stronger typhoons and is very susceptible to disasters. What better way to manage and reduce the risk we could be facing is to equip PAGASA so that they can function efficiently,” said Ejercito.

He urged both houses of Congress to immediately reconcile their versions of the bill to fast-track its enactment into law. – Pia Ranada/Rappler.com