Bohol sets aside P2.5M funds for

El Niño cloud seeding operations

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, May 12, (PIA) – Still months away from the potential effects of the long dry season which could potentially dry up Bohol’s rice production and sufficiency dreams, the provincial government has already allocated some P2.5 M for possible cloud seeding operations to mitigate the effects of the extreme drought to Bohol farms.

Provincial Administrator Asteria Caberte announced this while reading the governor’s message at the opening of the urgent meeting of the Task Force El Niño, Friday at the Capitol Ceremonial Hall.

The meeting had the local Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA), sharing its forecasts an increased likelihood of a transition to El Niño by July and could persist until the first quarter of 2024.

El Niño increases the probability of below normal rainfall conditions, which could have negative effects like dry spells and droughts in some areas in the country.

The Task Force meeting, also triggered by a resolution by the Malinao Dam Federation of Irrigators Association (MADFIA) of Pilar, which passed a resolution requesting the Provincial Government to allocate funds for cloud seeding operations from May to October, also come to synchronize and harmonize all efforts from government and the agriculture stakeholders to effectively respond with mitigation and adaptation measures for the El Niño.

On the federated irrigators’ association resolution, the national Irrigation Administration said while Malinao Dam, which has a 5 million cubic meter capacity, has still enough water for this cropping season.

This may not however last until the end of the year, if the predictions of below normal rains happen.

But with Capitol already allocating the cloud seeding fund, it would also be dependent still on the state weather bureau to determine the most appropriate time to seed, considering the presence of conditions favorable to the operations.

Malinao dam’s water level situation is also shared by Bayongan dan, Bohol’s largest water capacity dam at 25 million cubic meters, Capayas dam and Talibon dam.

The irrigation administration however emphasizes the need for farmers to start water austerity measures, so that the available irrigation water could reach as much farms and help Bohol store up on food for the dry spell.

And what if, even after spending the cloud-seeding operations fund, there is still not enough water to get the dams working?

In this eventuality, Capitol is set to pass a supplemental budget for El Niño mitigation and this could include another series of cloud seeding operations to produce artificial rain, and the P241 million additional funds which the Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPA) and Veterinary Office can implement in El Niño interventions that respond to different aspects of food production and irrigation facilitation.

This would include a proposed P76M additional budget for the Provincial Rice Program, P20 M for the Corn Program, P18 M for mobility and hauling vehicles, another P18M for irrigation support through water pumps and watering tools and P16M for support to bangus marine fish cages during the months of drought, according to Ramil Rodela of the OPA.

Other local government proposed items for the proposed supplemental budget which needs a Sangguniang Panlalawigan nod is P15 M for the establishment of smart green houses for vegetable production, P10.4 M organic fertilizer support, P7.2 M support for irrigation through drip irrigation, P6M for Information education and communication activities as well as P5M for bio pesticides and bio-composting support.

The rest of the OPA identified El Niño interventions also include irrigation support through water sprinklers and shade nets, P4M for vegetable production, P4.6M for Urban Gardening, Sweet potato production and production of nature technology farming systems concoctions, adds Rodela. (PIA-7/Bohol)

ENOUGH WATER FOR ONE CROPPING. According to the National Irrigation Administration, there is still enough water for one cropping, but there might not be enough for the succeeding croppings, that is why with the probability of a dry spell, the agency calls farmers to start exercising austerity measures in using irrigation water, so they can serve more. (PIABohol)