The present administration seems to be ignoring the warning signals from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa). Nothing showed this more clearly than when President Aquino just shrugged off the wave of resignations of Nathaniel Servando as Pagasa administrator and a number of officials and employees.
Receiving lower pay than their counterparts in other offices, especially in government-owned and -controlled corporations, Pagasa personnel are vulnerable to tempting offers of better remuneration from other countries. To be fair to them, they have persevered long enough, hoping that time would come when the government would take cognizance of their economic plight.
But they can’t wait forever. For one, the spiraling prices of life’s basic necessities are disturbing Pagasa employees more and more. This is on top of the inadequate equipment, facilities and apparatuses they have to contend with.
Under these circumstances, we can be certain that demoralization is not far behind. So, when greener pastures beckon, most likely they would leave Pagasa—to the detriment of Philippine public service.
So, unless the government recognizes the fact that good forecasters are leaving Pagasa and acts favorably on calls for higher salaries and better working conditions for the weather bureau’s employees, their “exodus” is a foregone conclusion.
And that would spell doom to weather forecasting services in this country. We just hope that something positive is forthcoming. Sana’y may pag-asa pa.
—EUSEBIO S. SAN DIEGO
founder, Kaguro and former president,
Quezon City PSTA, essandiego@ymail.com