IT group to PAGASA: Make scientific raw data accessible to public | Davao Today

"DAVAO CITY, Philippines — A group of computer professionals said that the data generated using public funds should be made available to the public and without any restrictions such as in the case of state weather bureau PAGASA.

CPU, in a statement Tuesday, particularly hit out the statement of PAGASA official for saying that raw data will only be given to vetted organizations that have the technical expertise to handle the information properly.

'We take offense over the statement of PAGASA Weather Division Operations Chief Esperanza Cayanan that raw weather forecasting data generated by the agency should be only made available to ‘vetted’ entities with technical expertise,' Rick Bahague, national coordinator of CPU, said.

Bahague questioned PAGASA for being 'selective' as to who will be able to use the data generated by from the technological platform.

'It is the public who pays the salaries of these good men and women in our weather forecasting agency. Who are they to say that data generated from their efforts, including raw data, will only be accessible to a select few?,' Bahague asked.

'In the first place, it is the public, through taxes exacted from our hard-earned money, who pays for the purchase of computers, satellite access, and software to generate these data,' he added."