TACLOBAN CITY, Aug 31 (PNA) – – The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has earmarked P3 million for the rebuilding of its Tacloban station within the airport complex.
“The fund is ready and we are done with our presentation of design to the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines (CAAP),” said Mario Peñaranda, chief meteorological officer of PAGASA-Tacloban.
CAAP, through its hired consultancy firm, is expected to designate an area within the airport complex for PAGASA station building and other government offices such as the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and the Philippine National Police (PNP) provincial office.
“Our presence at the airport is very important because we provide weather data, information and advice for aviation activities,” Peñaranda said, justifying their location at the airport complex that was badly hit by big waves.
The PAGASA station in Tacloban was badly damaged by storm surges generated by Yolanda in November last year, killing one of the bureau’s weather observer.
“We hope to start the reconstruction within the year so we can resume our normal operation,” he added.
The state weather bureau currently uses an office space in one of the laboratory rooms of the Department of Science and Technology in the Government Center in Palo, Leyte.
“Even if we lost many instruments, we still conduct regular observations that we send to Manila. For those who want to know up-to-date weather information, we advise them to check online,” Peñaranda told PNA. (PNA)