Zubiri wants upgrade in Pagasa’s weather forecasting capabilities

Sen. Juan Miguel “Migz” F. Zubiri underscores the importance of prioritizing research and development to enhance technological innovation and economic growth in the country. (Senate Public Relations and Information Bureau)

MANILA, Philippines — Former Senate President Juan Miguel Zubiri wants additional resources and equipment for the state weather bureau, noting that the country’s insufficient weather forecasting capabilities have consistently contributed to the loss of lives during inclement weather.

Zubiri raised his concern during the Senate subcommittee on finance’s deliberation on the proposed 2025 budget of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).

According to the former Senate president, better weather forecasting technology is vital, especially in light of the recently released  2024 World Risk Report, where the Philippines was identified as the most disaster-prone among 193 countries.

Apart from loss of lives, the senator said another adverse effect of insufficient weather warnings include unnecessary class and work suspensions, which according to him may have a negative impact on the education system and the economy.

“This is a failure of us to inform the people about the weather, and it is a failure of us, as a government, to warn them about the geohazard areas,” said Zubiri on Wednesday.

He later on wondered how other countries are able to determine the exact time of rainfall in certain areas. In order to address the country’s shortcomings, Zubiri called for the allocation of additional resources to the state weather bureau — Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

“Kapag may pagkukulang, baka pwede nating dagdagan ang equipment ninyo. Baka pwede nating dagdagan ang inyong training, or what software or hardware that you need,” Zubiri said, committing to helping the Pagasa, particularly the procurement of doppler radars.

(If the agency needs something, maybe we can add on their equipment. Maybe we can add the agency’s training [for their employees] or what software or hardware that you need.)

Zubiri’s commitment to push for Pagasa’s additional doppler radars was borne out of his realization that the agency only operates with limited equipment, with only 11 of its 19 doppler radars functional at present.

READ: Pagasa to use AI in weather forecasting soon

The DOST’s proposed budget for 2025 was P49.253 billion, but only P28.772 billion was approved in the National Expenditure Program.

For his part, Zubiri vowed to defend the DOST’s budget in the Senate plenary, underscoring the critical role accurate weather forecasting plays in disaster risk reduction.