To save 2024 rice and crops…

DA-BSWM allocates P5M for

Bohol cloud seeding op’ns

TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol, March 8 (PIA)—While it might take some time before Bohol could facilitate the release of the funds needed for cloud seeding operations to expedite land preparation for the next cropping season, the Department of Agriculture has set aside some P5 million in 2024 for the purpose.

The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) has apportioned P5M for cloud seeding in 2024, an amount which is different from the P5 million committed by the department in 2023, says DA Provincial Agriculture Technology Coordination Office through Engr. Cecile Opada.

Sharing the development during the El Niño Task Force meeting last week at the Capitol’s Ceremonial Hall, Opada also presented the DA recommendation for a proactive cloud seeding operations to save Bohol’s drought vulnerable areas beyond the reach of irrigation, and the still sizable patches of rain-fed paddies that could produce, if given the opportunity for water.

It may be recalled that in 2023, Bohol allocated some P2.5 million from the provincial disaster funds to supplement the P5 million which the BSWM also put up upon the request of the Provincial Government through Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado and the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist.

In September of 2023, during the Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management (PDRRM) Council Meeting, the body approved a resolution asking the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to declare a state of emergency due to the threatening long dry spell.

As basis of the council’s pleading to the provincial legislature, the Office of the Provincial Agriculture presented figures of potential damages caused by the already below normal rainfall and complemented by forecasts of the state weather bureau of the approaching El Niño phenomenon.

The SP however demanded actual damages instead of projected damages, to be able to summon its power to declare the state of emergency and release the disaster funds previously committed for the temporary solution in cloud seeding operations.

The SP also noted that occasional rainfall was observed in rice areas then, thus the money allocated for the purpose in 2023 was deferred to the 2024 cropping season.

For 2024, the PDRRMO has in its budget some P2.5M set aside for the hiring of civilian aircraft, rentals and other inclusions for the conduct of cloud seeding operations.

Moreover, the BSWM through the General Appropriation Act 2024 committed additional funds for the provincial government’s conduct of cloud seeding operations, in the amount of P5M.

During the same meeting, DA, through Opada also presented cost derivation of the planned cloud seeding operations for 45 hours using a civilian aircraft in Region 7.

Using an insured aircraft, to be manned by two cloud seeding certified pilots as attested by the Philippine Air Force, cloud seeding personnel and salt loaders, carrying a minimum of 20 bags of seeding salt and can fly for at least 4 hours, the cloud seeding operations that also figure in the costs of aviation fuel would cost some P5,017,280. (rahc/PIA-7/Bohol)

CLOUD SEEDING FROM MARCH-MAY. At the peak of the drought, DA PATCO’s Cecile Opada presented the Joint Area Assessment for Pre-Cloud Seeding Operations with experts proactively recommending cloud seeding operations from March-May and September to October, with the BSWM initially funding 45 hours of inducing rains to replenish the dams and save crops already nearing its reproductive stages. (PIABohol)