On February 28, 2025, the Institute of Environmental Science and Meteorology (IESM) welcomed a delegation from the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the Fiji Meteorological Service, and the University of the South Pacific (USP) as part of their visit to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Regional Training Centres (RTC) in the Philippines. The delegation spent the first two days of their visit at the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), learning about its operational training programs before proceeding to IESM for discussions on academic and research-based training.
The delegation included:
- Officers and staff from the Fiji Meteorological Service
- The Acting Director of the Pacific Centre for Environment and Sustainable Development, USP
- Members of the JICA Expert Team
The delegation aimed to gain insights into the RTC’s operations, training programs, and best practices as Fiji considers establishing its own WMO RTC. Discussions focused on how either USP or the Fiji Meteorological Service could develop an RTC suited to their institutional and regional needs. The visit also highlighted the two key roles of an RTC—one centered on education and academic training, exemplified by IESM, and the other on operational meteorology, as demonstrated by PAGASA. These discussions emphasized the importance of training, capacity-building, and collaboration among meteorological institutions in the Pacific.
IESM and Meteorology Research and Education
The IESM Meteorology curriculum is designed in alignment with the WMO 1083 Competency Framework, which outlines the role of education and training providers in meteorology. The curriculum covers key WMO-recommended topics such as Physical Meteorology, Dynamic Meteorology, Synoptic and Mesoscale Meteorology, and Climatology. Additionally, IESM’s programs undergo the rigorous curriculum approval process of the University of the Philippines, ensuring their academic and professional relevance.
Additionally, IESM serves as a training hub for local and international students, having previously hosted students who later graduated from various countries across Southeast Asia, the Pacific, and beyond, including but not limited to Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bhutan, Iraq, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Vietnam, Thailand, China, Costa Rica, Bangladesh, Yemen, Colombia, Taiwan, and Burma. Many of these graduates have gone on to contribute to their respective universities, research institutions, or operational meteorological services in their home countries. This highlights IESM’s continued commitment to capacity-building in meteorology and environmental science at a global scale.
Many of PAGASA’s forecasters and meteorological personnel are IESM graduates, illustrating a seamless transition from academic training to operational meteorology. The strong foundation provided by IESM prepares graduates for forecasting, research, and leadership roles within PAGASA. Additionally, many PAGASA executives and senior officials are former IESM graduate students, further demonstrating the institute’s role in shaping the country’s meteorological workforce.
Recognition in the WMO Training Network
The delegates from the Fiji Meteorological Service, USP, and JICA are exploring the establishment of a WMO-certified RTC. Their efforts are expected to strengthen meteorological education, enhance capacity-building in the Pacific region, and contribute significantly to regional meteorological advancements and international collaboration. During their visit, the delegation met with IESM Director Dr. Cherry L. Ringor, faculty members, and researchers, exchanging insights on meteorological training, forecasting techniques, and regional challenges in meteorology. The visit also provided an opportunity to observe ongoing research and training efforts at IESM.
The Philippines was designated as a WMO RTC in 1968, initially under PAGASA’s Research and Development and Training Division (RDTD). In 1978, the Department of Meteorology and Oceanography (DMO)—now IESM—was added as the university component. The WMO Sixteenth Congress (2011) reconfirmed RTC Philippines after an external review.
Today, the RTCs in the Philippines operate as an integrated center: PAGASA provides operational and job-oriented training, while IESM at UP offers academic and graduate education. This complementary structure ensures a comprehensive training system, equipping professionals with both practical forecasting expertise and advanced academic knowledge for National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs).
IESM and PAGASA are both recognized in the WMO Regional Training Centre Directory, underscoring their contribution to capacity-building in meteorology and related sciences. The process of recognition and reconfirmation of WMO RTCs follows specific guidelines established by the WMO, outlining the criteria for designation, assessment, and formal agreement. More details can be found in the official Guidelines for Designation or Reconfirmation of WMO Regional Training Centres.