Press Release
August 12, 2015

Senate Passes PAGASA Modernization Bill on 2nd Reading

The Senate yesterday passed on second reading the PAGASA Modernization bill (SB No. 2834) which is being shepherded on the floor by Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph G. Recto.

Under the proposed bill of Recto, the government will set aside money to fund the P3.9 billion modernization of PAGASA's operations and service, starting with world class weather forecasting equipment and expand its presence per region and province.

Recto, chairman of the Science and Technology committee, said that with a modernized PAGASA, the deadly onslaught of typhoons and dry spells could be mitigated with more accurate forecasts of the weather bureau resulting to a more prepared communities and more lives and properties spared.

Also included in the proposed measure is a new salary scale for PAGASA personnel and a 'personnel retention incentive' representing a portion of the base pay, for its meteorologists and forecasters. "We want a modern PAGASA that can warn us about typhoons and weather disturbances coming our way, and which has a working environment which prevents forecasters from leaving the Philippine area of responsibility," Recto said.

News Latest News Feed