PAGASA urged to convince new meteorologists to address shortage

• Published date: 04 November 2022
• Publication title: Philippines News agency

A party-list lawmaker on Friday said the government should convince more high school students to choose meteorology and Earth sciences for their courses in college and their careers to address the personnel shortage problem of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA).

Ang Probinsyano Party-list Representatives Alfred Delos Santos said the staff shortage in PAGASA is a supply chain issue considering that most Filipino high school students from the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) strand usually prefer becoming doctors, engineers, accountants, geologists, chemists, and physicists, among others.

"PAGASA's dire need for many new personnel is a difficult problem to solve. Meteorologists are in high demand in the private sector and overseas. In fact, PAGASA has lost some of its experts to those greener pastures," Delos Santos said.

He further noted that it is not only PAGASA that needs weather scientists, but also local government units to better prepare them against storms, monsoons, tornadoes, and storm surges.

"Mayors and...