Ex-PAGASA chief Nilo: Aquino given wrong info about me

Doctor Prisco Nilo on Monday admitted he was hurt by the Aquino administration’s decision to remove him from the government’s weather forecasting agency Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA). In an interview by reporter Susan Enriquez aired over GMA News’ “24 Oras," Nilo said he suspects President Benigno Aquino III was given wrong information about him and his performance. He said he heard that he was sacked because he was incompetent and ineligible for the job, an accusation he denied. “Outstanding nakalagay sa performance rating natin noong 2009, so mukang mali yung information na naibigay (My performance rating in 2009 was outstanding, so that shows wrong information about me was given to Malacañang)," he said. Asked what he feels about his removal from PAGASA, an agency he served for almost 27 years, Nilo said: “Siyempre hindi mo maitago yung sama ng loob. Normal naman siguro yun. Kaya para akong nilalagnat."

(Of course I can’t hide how displeased I am. I think that’s only normal. That why I don’t feel well.) He said what worries him now is PAGASA since a lot of its veteran forecasters are leaving the agency, some of them reportedly to find better paying jobs abroad. In the same report, Department of Science and Technology (DOST) secretary Mario Montejo admitted that he recommended for the removal of Nilo from PAGASA, citing the “difference in our mindsets." “Ang mindset natin dapat kaya nating solbin ang problema kahit ano gamit natin. Di natin puwede sabihing wala tayong makina, wala tayong equipment (Our mindset should always be, we can solve the problem despite the lack of machineries and equipment)," he said. PAGASA officials have repeatedly said lack of modern equipment is hampering them from doing their jobs more effectively. Montejo said under the new PAGASA administration, the agency would release updates on tropical cyclones on an hourly basis instead of the previous six-hour intervals. Malacañang has said it is standing by its decision to remove Nilo from PAGASA. Placed as PAGASA officer-in-charge for three months was DOST undersecretary for research and development Graciano Yumul, who served as PAGASA OIC in 2005. - KBK, GMANews.TV