MORE SUPPORT | Amid budget cut, PAGASA needs more funds to repair equipment, says official

November 4, 2022 , 03:41 PM

By Beatrice Puente

(November 4, 2022) – The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) on Friday said it needs additional funding to repair broken radars or buy new equipment for forecasting efforts.

Dr. Esperanza Cayanan, the deputy administrator for research and development of PAGASA, stressed that the Doppler weather radars play an important role in monitoring weather disturbances.

“Ito rin ay kailangan sa pagbibigay ng rainfall at thunderstorm warning kapag may namumuong kaulapan na magdudulot ng malalakas na pag-ulan. Ito ang pinagbabasehan ng forecasters para mag-issue ng alert and advisory o color-coded rainfall warning,” said Cayanan on One PH’s One Balita Pilipinas.

The faulty radars are stationed in Batanes, Catanduanes, Iloilo, and South Cotabato. Cayanan noted that the radars in nearby provinces can still be used but she stressed that it is still important for such equipment to be repaired as soon as possible.

Cayanan said they could not start the repair of the malfunctioning radar in Virac, Catanduanes due to the lack of funds.

“Insured ‘yan sa GSIS (Government Service Insurance System) pero wala pang pondong pang-abono para maumpisahan na ma-reconstruct o i-repair kasi totally damaged kaya kailangan bumili ng bago para ma-update natin,” noted Cayanan.

He added that the radar in Cotabato was wrecked by an earthquake.

“According to the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways), hindi na puwede (gamitin doon) kaya kailangan na ilipat natin ito. Humahanap tayo ng lugar somewhere in Cotabato na paglilipatan nito. ‘Yung sa Iloilo radar ay ire-repair natin,” said Cayanan, adding that this can take around eight to 10 months.

PAGASA stands to receive P1.1 billion under the 2023 National Expenditure Program—down by almost P245 million from its current budget. While there was no allocation for capital outlay next year, Cayanan said they forwarded their additional budget request through Sen. Francis Tolentino.

“Nag-request siya (Tolentino) kung ano pa ang pangangailangan ng PAGASA and this is already indicated in the letter. So, siguro naman mapagbibigyan tayo na madagdagan ang pondo natin para sa repair and rehabilitation ng ating mga equipment,” said Cayanan.

Several lawmakers and groups have been pushing for higher funding for PAGASA given the huge role it plays in times of calamities. Just last weekend, Severe Tropical Storm Paeng pummeled almost the entire country, leading to the death of 154 individuals and massive damage to agriculture and infrastructure.

AGHAM, a science advocacy organization, urged the administration of President Bongbong Marcos Jr. to increase PAGASA’s budget to further improve its capability to forecast storms and weather disturbances.

“With the increasing threats of climate change, President Marcos Jr. said that this is included in his top priorities. Yet he cuts the budget on departments that address this issue,” said AGHAM.

In a recent international report, the Philippines was named as the most vulnerable country to natural disasters. Around 20 typhoons enter the country every year.

(PM)

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