West Visayas. INQUIRER FILES
BACOLOD CITY — Seedable clouds needed to induce rain have been spotted in Negros Occidental and other parts of Western Visayas.
However, the Department of Agriculture (DA) is still sourcing funds for cloud-seeding operations.
DA Assistant Regional Director Albert Barrogo, in an interview last week, said about P6 million would be needed for cloud seeding in Western Visayas.
“There have been rains lately but for very short periods. Rains induced by cloud seeding in the last week of May to the second week of June could help agriculture crops,” he said.
The country’s weather bureau has said that rain would be below normal until June.
READ: PAF conducts successful cloud seeding over parts of N. Luzon
Rep. Emilio Yulo III of Negros Occidental’s 5th district and Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson hoped cloud seeding operations could still save badly damaged crops in Negros Occidental.
“The problem is not the lack of seedable clouds. The DA did not prepare a budget despite knowing that El Niño would hit,” he said.
“Knowing the slow government process, the horse may be dead by the time they start cloud seeding. We hope the cloud seeding can help but the damage has already been done,” he added.
Lacson, for his part, was informed that P6 million was needed for 55 hours of cloud-seeding operations.
He said he would inquire from the DA regional director if the funds had been downloaded so the cloud seeding could start.
“We welcome this cloud seeding. I think it could help the sugar industry recover some of its losses,” Lacson said.
At present, the damage to crops, animals, and fisheries due to the drought in Negros Occidental has hit P518.8 million.