Bacolod City (CNN Philippines) — Cloud-seeding operations are being urged to mitigate crop and livestock damage that, as of Tuesday (January 26), reached P239.2 million in Negros Occidental.
The amount was based on the reports of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist, Provincial Veterinary Office, and Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) during the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (PDRRMC) meeting in Bacolod City on Tuesday.
During the meeting, the PDRRMC also passed a resolution endorsing cloud-seeding operations to lessen the effect of drought.
According to Marlin Sanogal, Provincial Planning and Development Officer, the SRA, Department of Agriculture, Department of Agrarian Reform, and Department of Science and Technology have separate budgets ready for cloud seeding operations in Negros Occidental.
Sanogal said, “The PDRRMC endorsement is a requirement for the Bureau of Soil and Water Management to grant the various government agencies permission to go ahead with their cloud seeding operations.”
An estimated P6.7 million is needed for 60 hours of cloud-seeding operations, Sanogal said.
The DA regional office also approved an El Niño augmentation budget of P6,865,000 for Negros Occidental.
The budget is for 1,000 bags of hybrid corn seeds, water pumps and engine sets, and 330 heads of poultry, swine, and ruminants, Sanogal said.
Although rains triggered by the Northeast Monsoon hit parts of central and northern Negros Occidental for the past two days, it is not an indication yet of the end of El Niño, according to Isagani Republica of the Provincial Disaster Management Division.
As of Tuesday, records showed that more than 2,500 farmers from 72 barangays of 12 cities and municipalities in Negros Occidental have been affected by the El Niño that is expected to last until May.
