Secretary Mario Montejo recently swore in newly appointed officials of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) led by Dr. Nathaniel T. Servando, acting PAGASA administrator; and the new deputy administrators, namely Dr. Flaviana D. Hilario, research and development; Dr. Vicente B. Malano, operations and services; and Engr. Catalino L. Davis, administration and engineering services.
Also present in the oath-taking ceremonies was Dr. Graciano P. Yumul, Jr. who served as the PAGASA Officer-in-Charge since August 2010 in concurrent capacity as Undersecretary for Research and Development of DOST.
Dr. Servando , in a short message thanked Secretary Montejo and Undersecretary Yumul for the trust given to him and vowed to continue the developments in PAGASA, particularly in the improvement of the forecasting capability of the agency that started during the stint of Dr. Yumul as OIC.
Dr. Servando started his career in PAGASA as Weather Specialist in January 1990 and on February 4, 2004, he rose to the rank of Deputy Administrator (Director III) for Research and Development and served as Officer-in-Charge at the Office of the Deputy Administrator for Operations and Services prior to his appointment.
He has been the focal person in the ASEAN Sub-Committee on Meteorology and Geophysics since 2004 to present; focal person in Global Earth Observation System (GEOS) from 2005 to present; and member of the Philippine delegation to the UNFCCC Climate Change Negotiation and related meetings. Recently, Servando headed the Philippine Delegation to the UNESCAP/WMO Typhoon Committee 43rd Session held in Jeju Island, South Korea.
Dr. Servando received various awards to include among others the National Research Council of the Philippines Achievement Award in the field of Earth and Space Sciences on March 13, 2010; and Certificate of Merit from the DOST Secretary for early completion of Ph. D. in August 30, 2002. He has also published scientific papers in refereed journals.
He obtained his Master of Science degree in Marine Sciences, major in Marine Meteorology and Physical Oceanography from the University of Ryukyus in Okinawa, Japan and Master of Science and Ph. D. in Meteorology from the University of the Philippines in 1994 and 1998, respectively.
Meanwhile, the three appointed Acting Deputy Administrators also come from the ranks in PAGASA. Prior to their appointments, Dr. Flaviana Hilario served as chief of the Climatology and Agrometeorology Division. Dr. Vicente B. Malano was chief of the NCR-PAGASA Regional Services Division and Engr. Catalino L. Davis was chief of the Engineering and Technical Services Division. (V.R.Valdemoro, S & T Media Service)
