PAGASA weathermen protest lack of hazard pay as tropical storm loomsAs another storm barrels towards Luzon, spotlighting their critical role in savings lives and property, PAGASA workers are protesting the lack of hazard pay that has been promised them.
“Gusto lang namin na maimplement yung Republic Act 8439,†PAGASA Weathermen Employees Association President Ramon Agustin said in a phone interview with GMA News Online.
In the Magna Carta for Scientists or Republic Act No. 8439, PAGASA weather forecasters are entitled to hazard allowances from 10 to 30 percent of their basic monthly salary.
However, Agustin said that the government has been slow to implement the law.
“’Yung mga tao, ‘yun na lang ‘yung inaasahan. ‘Yun na lang ‘yung source ng pampaaral nila, ng pang-araw-araw nila, ng pagkain nila,†said Agustin.
‘“The issue of the hazard pay of our forecasters is already with DBM,†Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in a press briefing earlier.
Workers won't stop despite strike
However, the weathermen clarified that they did not intend to disrupt PAGASA's operations. The workers, wearing black arm bands, conducted their rally during their lunch break on PAGASA grounds.
“Our service will continue no matter what. Kahit nakahiga kami, gagawin namin yung trabaho namin,†said Agustin, despite a supposed lack of assurance from the government of any hazard pay.
“Our forecasters have always risen to the occasion. They have never put the public in jeopardy,†Valte said.
“But I will have to speak also to Secretary Mario Montejo because I am quite sure that he has already coordinated with his forecasters to address their concerns,†Valte added. "Kasi matagal na pong nakikipag-pulong si Secretary Mario Montejo, sila Director Mon Liboro with our PAGASA forecasters for them to first air their concerns and, pangalawa, to work with them with other agencies on those concern."
Critical lack of able workers
As of 2012, PAGASA employs 56 meteorologists —including weather observers, division chiefs and its administrators— out of its 867-strong work force. This means that meteorologists comprise roughly 7 percent of all its workers.
Thirty-six meteorologists are attached to the agency's Weather Division.
Over the last ten years, the number of PAGASA workers has declined by more than 20 percent. According to news reports, they have lost workers to better employment opportunities abroad.
Apart from that, since PAGASA cannot offer internationally-competitive salaries, it has not been able to attract enough applicants willing to work for relatively meager compensation.
According to PAGASA data, even its critical divisions are losing employees. The stark decline can especially be seen for the Field Stations, Climatology and Agrometeorology Division, and the Weather Division, which are all responsible for weather forecasting in the country.
Understaffed, undertrained
According to science-advocacy group AGHAM Party List, although PAGASA has continually insisted that it has a sufficient number of "weather forecasters," only a few have been adequately trained.
This dearth is partly due to the local lack of educational programs: until this year, only two universities offered a graduate degree in Meteorology —the University of the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University.
According to the University of the Philippines website, the number of enrollees in its Meteorology program has steadily increased since it was first offered in 1970. However, the number of graduates does not reflect the current number of meteorologists employed in PAGASA.
In 2010, PAGASA, together with at least three other higher education institutions, began to offer an undergraduate program in Meteorology. But the program only started accepting students this year.
Demand increasing exponentially
The need for professionally-trained weather forecasters will only increase in the near future, as DOST and other allied institutions have launched intensive monitoring and forecasting programs such as Project NOAH (Nationwide Operational Assessment of Hazards) and CLIMATE X. These programs were created to enhance weather forecasting in the country to support aviation, navigation, agriculture and other industries greatly affected to weather.
PNoy meets with forecasters
At 5:30pm, President Benigno Aquino III arrived at PAGASA headquarters to personally talk to the forecasters, as well as assure the public that their safety would not be compromised.
"Naghahanap tayo ng fair. ‘Yung fair baka naman added benefit ‘nung nasa hazardous assignment talaga. ‘Yung hindi hazardous ‘wag naman sana entitled. Yung hazard pay, kailangan nating bigyan ng rhyme and reason. ‘Pag natapos lahat itong pag-aayos ng lahat ng detalye —sino ang entitled sa hazard at sino ang hindi—pwede na nating isama sa request natin sa budget to fund these para may permanence sila, OK," Aquino said.
The President also said that, once things have been sorted out, a proper allocation could be entered into the agency's annual budget proposal. — TJD/HS, GMA News
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