By Daniel P. Tapaoan, Jr. 

The country’s first-ever school-based meteorology laboratory will soon be enjoyed by students of the Mariano Marcos State University, with its ongoing construction at the Communication Arts Building here at the City of Batac Main Campus and the procurement of facilities and equipment.

With a Php 10 million fund from the initiative of Senator Sonny Angara, the project is expected to enhance the offering of BS Meteorology program in the university, being one of the first to offer in the country, along with Bicol University. 

The building will consist of a laboratory room, two classrooms, and a faculty room. It will be equipped with high performing laboratory equipment and computer units.

Prof. Angelo Benedict R. Ragunjan, chair of CAS Department of Physical Sciences, said the building will serve as the center for atmospheric and climate research, forecasting and modelling. 

“The meteorology laboratory will surely help us in enhancing scientific and technical skills of our students, making them more competent meteorologists in the future,” Ragunjan assured. 

CAS Dean Marivic M. Alimbuyugen said the presence of the lab will ensure that meteorology graduates will become more capable of innovating solutions and products, and are more ready to embrace the current and future technologies in the field. 

Thanking the national government for its immense support to university projects, MMSU President Shirley C. Agrupis expressed confidence that the university will further its development of industry-ready graduates who can contribute to sustainable national development. 

MMSU is one of the only four universities in the Philippines that offer BS Meteorology, along with Central Luzon State University, Visayas State University and BU. The course was offered in 2012 to meet the demand for meteorologists in the country. In 2014, the university produced two of the country’s first batch of meteorology graduates through the Consortium for Meteorology Education and Training carried out by the Agham Party List, DOST, CHED, and the four state universities. (HLY/JVBT, StratCom)