DA ready for cloud seeding op in Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture is now ready to conduct cloud seeding in the province of Cebu.

Personnel from the Bureau of Soil and Water Management have met yesterday with Baltazar Tribunalo, chief of the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office, to discuss the process of the operation.

Cloud seeding is the process of producing artificial rain.

The DA as well as the Department of Science and Technology, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration and the Department of National Defense are now coordinating for the activity.

Tribunalo said the DA is just waiting for “seedable cloud” and the availability of the aircraft from the Air Force for the operation to pursue.

“Kung naa na, paluparon dayon nila ang eroplano ug bubuan og specialized nga asin,” Tribunalo said.

Chemicals such as silver iodide or dry ice, among others, will be used to seed the atmosphere and artificially create rainfall.

However, according to Tribunalo, one of the challenges in conducting cloud seeding is the location and shape of Cebu Province, because unlike the province of Bohol, Cebu is a long narrow island.

Conducting cloud seeding also needs timing, he added.

DA personnel are also conducting assessment on the cornfields in the towns of Balamban and Asturias if these reach to 1,000 square meters as per requirement of the agency.

“Dunay requirement pud at least 1,000 hectares nga nagtubo pa nga mga tanom unya at the same time, aduna ba’y available nga dam,” said Tribunalo.

He said the national government will be the one to shoulder the cost in conducting cloud seeding.

Meanwhile, the Cebu provincial government is planning to start distributing relief packs to different local government units affected by the dry spell.

Capitol is targeting 25,000 people from the most affected areas to be the first to receive the aid from the province.

Tribunalo said they are now waiting for the procurement process to finish this week so that they can start the distribution in a week’s time.

Capitol will be distributing 8,500 sacks of NFA rice, 1000 bundles of sando bags containing relief goods, 155 rolls of pipes, 2000 plastic jerry cans, and 45 water tanks.

Jon Sepe, chief of the Provincial General Services Office, earlier said that based on the procurement law, suppliers are given 15 days to supply and deliver the purchased products.

The Capitol could no longer wait for the response of the Commission on Election (Comelec) regarding the exemption from the election ban, which was sought by the Capitol. — (FREEMAN)