DOST-PAGASA S&T Media Service
23 March 2022, Quezon City


The DOST- PAGASA celebrates the National Meteorological Service Day in conjunction with the commemoration of the World Meteorological (WM) Day on 23 March 2022, under the timely theme “Early Warning and Early Action, Hydrometeorological and Climate Information for Disaster Risk Reduction.” The observance aims to signify the international commitments and response of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) of the United Nations on weather and climate disasters that also inter-relate to much challenging global environmental and humanitarian crisis.

The Philippines had been a member of the WMO since 1950 through the National Hydrometeorological Service, the DOST-PAGASA, in partnership with our counterparts in many nations promote open scientific exchange knowing that the atmosphere does not regard geopolitical boundaries. This close cooperation engendered by the principle of scientific internationalism in meteorology and related fields is the main reason that weather forecasting and monitoring of the global climate is even possible today and continues progressing into the future.

This year’s forthcoming WM Day event is also jointly celebrated in the Philippines as National Meteorological Day, the 157th landmark year since the historic foundation of the Philippine Weather Service in 1865 during the Spanish colonial government. It also marks the milestone golden anniversary year since the former Weather Bureau was abolished which led to the establishment of the PAGASA fifty years (50) ago on 08 December 1972 by Presidential Decree No. 78, under the administration of the late President Ferdinand E. Marcos.

WMO Secretary-General Prof. Petteri Taalas will launch the WM Day activities worldwide and report on the state of the world weather and climate. The DOST-PAGASA Administrator Dr. Vicente B. Malano as Permanent Representative of the Philippines with the WMO will lead in launching the coinciding activities at the Central Office in Quezon City simultaneous with the regional and field stations nationwide.

This year’s celebration of the National/World Met Day 2022 has lined up and highlighted different activities. Pre-event activities include a caricature drawing contest dubbed as “e-Guhit” inviting the participation of Junior and Senior High School students nationwide thereby involving the awareness of the young generations in terms of DRR activities. The deadline for submission of entries is March 20, 2022. The PAGASA will also conduct an awareness and information education seminar for its non-technical and technical employees dubbed as “Maagang Aksyon at Akmang Gawin Ayon sa Panahon” (MAGAAP) though a webinar today, March 21, this will precede as a test bed/pre-test for the Information Education Campaign (IEC) that will be scheduled mid of this year to the general public. On March 22, the 146th National Climate Forum will be conducted alongside the PAGASA Regional Services Division (PRSD} Virtual Tour showcasing the PRSD profile products and services and the impacts to their different stakeholders.

On March 23, the main program will commence through a Eucharistic Celebration and followed by the PAGASA Personnel Fun Games to make the celebrations more blissful and festive. It will be simultaneous with the Virtual Scientific Forum highlighting various DRR related topics. To end the morning activities, a press conference was slated for our media partners on the launch of the “Modified Tropical Cyclone Warning Signal” back-to-back with the “Preparation for the Warm and Dry Days”. Culminating the days' celebration is the awarding of “PAGASA Gawad Awards” and the “PAGASA Wind Vane Awards”. The former is given to employees who exhibited exemplary accomplishments and dedication in the pursuit of public service and the latter, the “PAGASA Wind Vane Awards” on the other hand, traditionally is a prestigious recognition conferred to several individuals or institutions a year who have exceptionally supported PAGASA’s work by contributing to the improvement of the agency’s mandate on weather disaster warnings and mitigation thereby achieving public trust and recognition. The past recipients are notable personalities in media, the academe, government officials, and public servants but have also included ordinary private citizens and institutions who have performed outstanding volunteerism in disaster warnings or as emergency first responders.

Despite the imminent issues on the COVID-19 pandemic, the DOST-PAGASA continued to be greatly motivated to celebrate the national/world meteorological day in our unyielding pursuit in promoting early warning services for the protection of people’s lives and properties.

For more detailed information, you may contact Ms. Sharon Juliet M. Arruejo, Over-all Coordinator for additional information at telephone numbers 8284-0800 local 907 or Ms. Ma. Cecilia A. Monteverde, Over-All-Chair of the celebration at telephone number 8284-0800 local 108.

Original signed:


VICENTE B. MALANO, Ph.D.
Administrator