DPWH ordered to assess quake damage to Pagasa building in Agusan del Sur

MANILA, Philippines — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to assess damage caused by an earthquake to the state weather agency’s building in Agusan del Sur.

“Have a look at it because it’s very important for forecasting so that at least we have warnings when these things happen. So that we have warnings when there are heavy rains or a low pressure area,” Marcos told Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan in Filipino during a situation briefing in the province on Friday.

Marcos and other Cabinet members were in the Caraga Administrative Region to visit areas affected by persistent inclement weather due to the northeast monsoon and LPA trough.

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The Pagasa central office building (Photo from PAGASA)

The briefing held in Agusan del Sur discussed updates on heavy rains that triggered floodings and landslides in Caraga and the rest of Mindanao, as well as the magnitude 5.8 earthquake that rocked the province early this month.

During the meeting, Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel raised concern about the building of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration, which was damaged by the temblor.

The Pagasa building houses the Doppler radar used in weather forecasting.

“The [weather] forecast has become more and more important. Forecasting has become even more important than it always was, that’s why we should be concerned,” Marcos said.