Many experts still want to join PAGASA – Palace

MANILA — Despite three employees of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) resigning to pursue better-paying jobs in the Middle East, Malacanang on Sunday assured that there are still many interested to become employees of the agency.

Presidential Communications Operations Office (PCOO) Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. in an interview over state-run dzRB radio raised the issue in reaction to criticisms hurled at the agency for the continuous resignation of PAGASA employees.

“When the news broke about the resignation of employees of PAGASA, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) released a statement explaining that (resignation of employees) is a common occurrence in any organization,” Coloma said in Filipino.

“It also shows that we have trained our meteorologists very well that is why they can get great opportunities in the promotion of their profession,” he added.

Putting it in the context of sports, the PCOO chief said that in a team, the Philippines has a lot of “pambato” (bets).

“There are still many interested to become employees under PAGASA,” Coloma said.

Coloma also noted that there were scholarships and training programs for those who wanted to join PAGASA and that the DOST was also doing its best to organize benefits of employees.

The President of the Philippine Weathermen Employees Association (PWEA) Ramon Agustin earlier said that the non-payment of benefits of PAGASA personnel was the reason behind the resignations.

PAGASA meanwhile, promised their personnel that payment of their benefits would no longer be delayed.