GUIMBAL, Iloilo, Philippines (PNA) – A new Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) weather station will be established in the port area of the municipality of Guimbal next year.

Department of Science and Technology (DoST) Regional Dir. Owen Gelonga said the weather station to be built would be a permanent one as the lot was offered by the Municipal Government of Guimbal. Gelonga said it would serve as a maritime monitoring station.

The PAGASA weather station is currently holding a temporary office in Mandurriao in this city.

Under its modernization program, the PAGASA equipment will be upgraded and equipped with automatic weather monitoring gadgets. Such gadget is intended to provide the public fast and accurate updates on the weather condition.

CEBU JUDGES WEAR BLACK

CEBU CITY, Cebu, Philippines (PNA) – Cebu judges and court personnel wore black during their flag-raising ceremony Monday morning at the Chief Justice Marcelo Fernan Palace of Justice to show their objection to any cuts in the judiciary’s budget for 2011 and to appeal for legislators to allocate funds for salary increases and differentials coming to them 2007.

The decision to dramatize such requests was relayed to Cebu’s judges by Judge Antonio Eugenio of the Philippine Judges’ Association (PJA), Judge Jaime Santiago of the Metropolitan and Cities Judges of the Philippines (METCJP) and Judge Josefina Siscar of the Trial Judges’ Association of the Philippines (TJAPI).

According to Judge Joshua Palalay of the Ormoc City Metropolitan Trial Court in Cities, the lack of funds has distorted salary scales, so that some clerks of court receive a higher basic pay than judges. Cebu Regional Trial court (RTC) Executive Judge Meinrado Paredes said that while he supports calls to protest cuts in the judiciary’s budget, judges in Cebu have yet to agree on a collective stand.

”We want a collegial decision to a collegial discussion,” said Paredes.

The latter said he recognizes the importance of the protest, particularly to judges like him, and he feels sympathetic over the matter.

But he said he was caught off-guard when the three organizations decided immediately to conduct the protest, without prior notice. Paredes said he will meet with fellow RTC judges to discuss the matter.

HIKE IN TEACHERS’ PAY MULLED

BACOLOD CITY, Negros Occ., Philippines – Public school teachers are certain to be happy once House Bill 3454 is enacted into law.

The bill, authored by Bacolod Congressman Anthony Golez, Jr., refers to "An Act providing for additional support and compensation for educators in basic education..”

Golez said teachers stand to have an increase in pay which will be implemented on a staggered basis within a three-year period.

He said he is proposing an increase of P3,000 on teachers’ salaries to be implemented on the first year, another P3,000 on the second year and a hike of still another P3,000 on the third year, or a total increase of P9,000 in their salaries in all.

“We make quality teachers by providing appropriately for their basic needs, health assistance, and other benefits,” said Golez.

The solon said he also intends to discuss with Bacolod Mayor Evelio Leonardia the possibility of building a teachers’ village for all public school teachers in the city.

“This project,” according to Golez said, “has already received pledges of support from the national government.” (Edith B. Colmo)