100ARAW.com

Contrary to predictions by the state weather bureau, typhoon Basyang (Conson) ripped through Metro Manila last week, surprising citizens in the National Capital Region, including President Noynoy Aquino.

In a display of pique, Aquino scolded the state weather forecasters about their failure to provide an accurate forecast on typhoon Basyang, especially on its route that happened to include Metro Manila.

In so doing, Aquino articulated what the public feels about the work of the men and women of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). For many, PAGASA forecasts have become too limited or too inaccurate. It is no longer unusual for businesses and citizens to complement PAGASA forecasts with reports from foreign forecasting agencies. Some times, PAGASA forecasts are set aside totally.

Aquino, who ran and won a platform of change and hope, should bring the same to PAGASA. The state and the country depends so much on PAGASA but the agency is given too little to accomplish its tasks. For a country located in the “typhoon belt” and along the Pacific “ring of fire”, the Philippines should provide adequate support to PAGASA especially in the form of funding for the equipment they need and for the training and retraining of scientists and experts working there.

If state support for PAGASA remains unchanged, the agency would only be able to provide full service in 2013. That’s a long, terrifying wait.

President Aquino should support PAGASA by raising the government’s budget for the agency when he submits to Congress his proposed 2011 national appropriations act later this month.

Anything less than that would make Aquino no different from previous presidents who scold bureaucrats but do not equip and empower them to perform their jobs and functions, starting with adequate appropriations. The President must be able to lead in seeing this through.

PAGASA’s rank and file, the scientific community and the public would support such a move.