MANILA -- Malacañang announced Saturday new officials who will run the state weather bureau, five months after President Benigno Aquino III sacked its leader for allegedly giving way off the mark typhoon forecasts.

Deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said Dr. Nathaniel Servando will now serve as the Acting Administrator of the Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa).

The former deputy administrator for operations replaced Graciano Yumul Jr., who went back to his duties as Science and Technology Undersecretary for Research and Development.

“His (Servando’s) appointment papers reached the department last Friday. This is effectively immediately,” Yumul told Sun.Star.

Yumul temporarily called the shots in Pagasa following Prisco Nilo’s relief in August last year. Nilo left government service last November allegedly in exchange for better opportunities in Australia.

Named as Pagasa acting deputy administrators, on the other hand, are Dr. Flaviano Hilario, Vicente Malano, and Catalino Davis. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)