The director of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa), Dr. Graciano Yumul, Jr., on Monday availed of early retirement after 28 years of public service.

Yumul, who was also the Undersecretary for Research and Development at the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), retired for very private, personal reasons, according to DOST secretary Mario Montejo.

It is with deep regret that I accept the decision of Undersecretary Graciano Yumul, Jr. to seek optional retirement from government service due to personal reasons, Montejo said in a press conference.

There was no pressure from the government for him to resign. Even I was surprised by his decision.

Yumul submitted his resignation letter on March 11, effective immediately, according to PAGASA spokesperson Dr. Raymund Liboro.

He's a tough cookie and would not give in easily to pressure, Liboro told the Star, emphasizing that Yumuls reasons were personal.

A third government official reiterated the personal nature Yumuls decision.

It was Undersecretary Yumul who chose to optionally retire, Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda noted in a press briefing yesterday. There is no politics involved in his decision to retire early.

Yumul had been the DOST head of R&D since 2006. Yumul was appointed Pagasa director in 2010, following the sacking of head Priscillo Nilo, who the president berated for being way off mark in predicting the path of Typhoon Basyang.

Montejo appointed Dr. Amelia Guevara, a long-time associate of the DOST and the Executive Director of the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development, to replace Yumul as officer-in-charge of DOST R&D.

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Pagasa head retiring for 'personal reasons'