Press Release
November 26, 2007

VILLAR PUSHES PAG-ASA MODERNIZATION

Senate President Manny Villar filed Senate Bill No. 1916 seeking to modernize the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA).

This came following the apparently imprecise reports made by PAG-ASA on typhoon "Mina."

Under the measure entitled, "An Act providing for the modernization of PAG-ASA, providing funds therefore and for other purposes," the government shall "undertake the modernization of the national weather service to ensure utmost public safety and well-being in pursuit of national progress."

"To realize an enhanced weather and flood forecasting, climate prediction and monitoring, and astronomical and associated services, PAG-ASA shall undertake a six-year modernization program," adopting a four-pronged approach:

1) the establishment of regional weather service centers in strategic areas in the country to broaden the agency's bases for the delivery of services to the countryside;

2) the modernization of physical resources and operational techniques through the acquisition of state-of-the-art instruments, equipment, and facilities, with emphasis on weather and flood monitoring and warning system and ago-meteorological observational system to strengthen services for agriculture;

3) the intensification of human resources development to keep pace with rapid scientific and technological advances; and

4) the upgrading of research and development capability through a more rationalized and totally integrated approach and identified activities, with focus on improvement of operations, and development of specialized services for cost recovery.

The bill seeks to establish a PAG-ASA modernization fund sourced from: a portion of the net income of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation to be taken from the 50-percent share of the national government; and from loans, grants and donations from local or foreign sources.

"We have more reasons to modernize our weather forecasting because our country is considered a typhoon belt, aside from the fact that we are an agricultural country. It is highly imperative that we contemplate farmers' welfare by giving them accurate weather information for their own protection," Villar said in his explanatory note on the bill.

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