Presidential Decree No.

78;
December 1972 as amended by
Presidential Decree No. 1149;
August 1977

ESTABLISHING THE PHILIPPINE

ATMOSPHERIC GEOPHYSICAL AND
ASTRONOMICAL SERVICES
ADMINISTRATION

Section 1.Title.- This Act

shall be known and cited
as the "Atmospheric,
Geophysical and
Astronomical
Science Act
Section 2.Declaration
of Policy.
of
1972.one of the attached agencies
PAGASA,
of the Department of Science and
Technology (DOST) under its Scientific
and Technical Services Institutes, is
mandated to TO PROVIDE
PROTECTION AGAINST NATURAL
CALAMITIES AND UTILIZE SCIENTIFIC
KNOWLEDGE AS AN EFFECTIVE

Section 3.Philippine Atmospheric,

Geophysical and Astronomical Services:
Powers, Duties and Functions.

Maintain a nationwide network,

pertaining to observation and
forecasting of weather and flood
and other climatological
conditions affecting the national
safety, welfare and economy;
Undertake activities relative to
observation, collection,
assessment and processing of
atmospheric and allied data for

 Engage in studies of
atmospheric, geophysical and
astronomical phenomena
essential to the safety and
welfare of the people;
Undertake researches on the
structure, development and
motion of typhoons and formulate
measures for their moderation;
and
Maintain effective linkages
with scientific organizations here
and abroad and promote
exchange of scientific information

Sec. 5. DIRECTOR-GENERAL,
DIRECTORS of major organizational
Units, Other Personnel. The PAGASA
shall be headed by a DIRECTORGENERAL. The DIRECTOR-GENERAL
shall be appointed by the President of
the Philippines, subject to
confirmation by the Commission on
Appointments. He shall hold office
during good behavior, and shall not be
removed therefrom except for cause.
He shall be a citizen of the Philippines
with proven executive ability who
shall have distinguished himself in

Each DIRECTOR of major organizational

units of PAGASA shall be APPOINTED BY
THE PRESIDENT OF THE PHILIPPINES
SUBJECT TO CONFIRMATION BY THE
COMMISSION ON APPOINTMENTS. He
shall be a citizen of the Philippines with
proven executive ability who shall have
achieved distinction in his particular
field. PROVIDED, THAT THE INCUMBENT
HEAD OF EACH MAJOR ORGANIZATIONAL
UNIT OF PAGASA SHALL CONTINUE AS
DIRECTOR OF HIS RESPECTIVE UNIT.
All subordinate personnel of PAGASA
below the rank of DIRECTOR shall be

Section 6.Powers and Duties of the

Director-General.- To implement the
policies and objectives of the
PAGASA as provided for in this Act,
the administrator shall have the
following functions, duties and
powers, among others:
(a) To promulgate such rules and
regulations as may be necessary for
the conduct and exercise of the
essential functions of the
organization;
(b) To exercise supervision and

(d) To prescribe the office hours for

employees of the PAGASA engaged
in meteorological, geophysical,
astronomical and other technical
work in order to maintain a
continuous 24 hours watch as
necessary;
(e) When necessary, duty beyond
prescribed hours especially during
the occurrence of very inclement
weather, tropical cyclones,
earthquakes, and tsunamis, may

(f) In order to stimulate keen

interest in research work among the
scientific personnel of the Agency, a
research incentive pay may be
authorized by the Administrator in
the form of fixed increment
amounting to fifteen per cent of the
researcher's monthly salary for each
month for a period of one year to
the researcher concerned following
the completion and publication of
his research work: Provided,
however, That the award shall be

(g) To provide at government

expense compatible with
available resources, living
quarters for such personnel
who by the nature of their
duties are to be on call 24
hours a day; and
(h) To submit within sixty
days after the close of each
fiscal year, an annual report
to the Secretary of National
Defense.

Section 7.Authority to Procure

Scientific Equipment.- Any
provision of law and regulation to
the contrary notwithstanding, the
Administrator is hereby
authorized, subject to the
approval of the Secretary of
National Defense, to conduct
sealed bids and/or canvass of the
foreign and/or local market
without the intervention of the
Bureau of Supply Coordination in

Section 8.Authority to Make

Disbursements in Actual
Emergency.- Any provision of law
and regulation to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Administrator is
hereby authorized, in case of natural
calamities related to the functions of
the PAGASA, to disburse an amount
not exceeding fifty thousand pesos a
month from the funds of the PAGASA
appropriated for specified purposes
or from savings, without seeking
prior authority or approval from any

"Sec. 9. Hazardous Duty Pay. Any

officer or employee of the
Administration, during the time
that he is performing official duties
or function involving exposure to
personal danger, shall be entitled
to additional compensation to be
determined by the DIRECTORGENERAL and approved by the
Secretary of National Defense,
exclusive of the usual per diems
and other allowances: Provided,

Classification of Tropical Cyclones

1. Tropical depression - maximum

sustained winds is from 45 to
63 kph;
2. Tropical Storm - maximum
sustained winds is from 64 to
118 kph;
3. Typhoon maximum sustained
winds is greater than 118 kph.

Weather forecast
Weak El Nio is present in the
tropical Pacific with chances of
strengthening toward the end 2015;
Onset of the rainy season associated
with southwest monsoon is expected
to commence by mid-June 2015.
Higher air temperature may be
experienced during the forecast
period (May- September 2015).
10-15 Tropical cyclones may enter
the Philippine Area of Responsibility