Manila, Philippines – The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining and enhancing its sovereign, on-premise email infrastructure as part of efforts to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of weather alerts and climate information across the country.
The government weather agency said it will continue investing in its email platform, citing the importance of locally controlled digital infrastructure and operational resilience for critical public services.
The initiative builds on PAGASA’s seven-year partnership with UR Solutions Inc., a Philippine-based technology provider. The agency’s on-premise email system, powered by Zimbra, currently supports approximately 1,000 mailboxes and is designed to provide greater control over system uptime, security policies, and operational continuity.
PAGASA said the continued investment aligns with its focus on data sovereignty and operational autonomy as a government institution responsible for disseminating critical weather and climate information.
The move comes as the Philippines remains highly vulnerable to extreme weather events, with the country experiencing an average of 20 typhoons annually. Reliable communication systems are considered essential for ensuring that weather forecasts, warnings, and advisories reach relevant stakeholders without disruption.
“For several years, our Zimbra platform has reliably managed the mailboxes dedicated to communicating severe weather data. This project with UR Solutions Inc, is not a new start, but a strategic enhancement to secure this vital infrastructure,” said Rolymer Canillo, Assistant Weather Services Chief. “It guarantees that critical public alerts and national data are protected and delivered, reinforcing our commitment to national safety and uninterrupted service.”
According to PAGASA, the project is intended to strengthen the resilience of its communication infrastructure while maintaining control over data management and security.
Representatives from Zimbra highlighted the role of sovereign digital infrastructure in supporting organisations responsible for critical national services.
“PAGASA’s continued use of Zimbra reflects the growing importance of data sovereignty for key national infrastructure. As an open-core platform, Zimbra gives organisations like PAGASA meaningful control over where their data resides and how it is secured, on their terms. We’re proud to support such an essential public service, alongside our trusted local partner,” said Ivy Lee, Vice President of Sales for Asia-Pacific and Japan at Zimbra.
UR Solutions Inc., which has worked with PAGASA on the platform for several years, said local expertise has played a key role in maintaining and optimising the system.
“As a long-term Philippine partner, we are proud to lead the modernisation of PAGASA’s digital backbone,” said Patrick Reidenbach, President and General Manager of UR Solutions Inc. “Our local expertise ensures the organisation’s existing on-premise Zimbra system is continually optimised for the highest availability and stringent security protocols. This successful, sustained collaboration is a powerful testament to the strength of combining global, transparent technology with dedicated local service.”
The continued partnership reflects PAGASA’s broader efforts to maintain secure and reliable communications infrastructure in support of its weather monitoring and public information responsibilities.
