Cloud seeding operations

continue: SP Agri Comm

CORTES, Bohol June 14 (PIA)—Cloud seeding operations (CSO) continue despite Board Member Vierna Mae Boliel-Maglasang’s effort to halt inducing the rains, alleging that since rainy season has started, it is just a waste of money.

During a committee meeting called by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan Committee on Agriculture held at the Capitol June 14, all resource persons from the state weather bureau, the Department of Agriculture, National Irrigation Administration and even the Provincial Disaster and Risk Reduction Management Council agree that science is way more reliable than politics.

The cloud seeding operations technical working group has reported about 4 flights of the month-long activities to induce the rains to fall than wait for it to be blown off and fall where there are least needed, before the opposition called for a stop to the operations.

Tuloy ang cloud seeding operations, according to acting provincial Agriculturist Larry Pamugas, who presented figures close to P459 million in damages to agriculture left by the El Niָño phenomenon that brought in extra-ordinary dry spells in Bohol and elsewhere in the country.

Meanwhile, Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) state weather bureau said, despite the onset of the rainy season, they noted that from June 1 to June 12, Bohol only got form 4.6 millimeters of rainfall.

This is way too low, because in normal conditions of the onset of the rainy season, Bohol should have 155 millimeters of rainfall per month or 5.2 for the first 12 days, PAG-ASA meteorologist Engr. Leonardo Samar said.

And while there are predictions of some 2 typhoons entering the country in June, PAG-ASA said their models point to areas in Samar, Southern Luzon of the eastern seaboards of Luzon 3, that if there are rains, it wouldn’t be amounting to the much needed water for the farms.

Maglasang pointed out data from PAG-ASA weather monitoring group chats and the declaration of the state weather bureau of the rainy season, averred that the expensive rain-inducing flights are unnecessary and a waste of resources.

Picking up a presidential comment which directs the exclusion of the cloud seeding operations as immediate solution to the drought for lack of scientific evidence, Maglasang who identifies herself with the opposition, also questioned the P23.4 million irrigation interventions as El Nino mitigation, another P30M for the indemnity for 30,000 farmers and fisherfolks as well as the distribution of these materials which remain to be unimplemented.

“The government would never release funds for cloud seeding unless there has been a clear understanding on its use,” Opada pointed out saying that at 86 percent to 88 percent success rate, cloud seeding operations have become a regular mitigating measure against droughts.

She also argued the need for rain inducing operations using a video of an alleged spilling of the Malinao Dam in Pilar last June 5.

National Irrigation Administration’s Engr Evelina Putong however denied the allegations, adding that the last time the dam was spilling was in December of 2023.

The irrigation official said since Malinao Dam is fed by two rivers: Pamacsalan and Wahig, there is a constant water getting in, but with Bayongan dependent on Malinao, at a certain level of the water in Malinao, it has to share its water to Bayongan, so as not to waste the extra water.

With the few rains brought by typhoon Aghon and the occasional localized thunderstorms, these are not enough to saturate the cracked rice fields which would simply allow the irrigation water to seep in, Engr Putong also argued.

The cloud seeding operations can only work when there are visible ‘seedable’ clouds as reported by DA’s cloud spotters, according to DA’s Opada, that every time the spotters see the presence of clouds ripe for cloud seeding, the team flies in pre-charted flight plans to sprinkle salt for the rain to fall.

Had the committee failed to clear out things with BM Maglasang, it would be some 108,000 hectares of agricultural lands and aquacultures totally wasted for this cropping, thousands of poultry and livestock, and an undetermined area of watersheds that need to replenish their water reserves to sustainably allow the rivers to flow. (PIABohol)