• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Cloud seeding operations of the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) are expected to start this week in Negros Occidental, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson disclosed yesterday.
In a dialog with some sugar planters, Lacson said he was told that they are not content with the natural rains, especially in rain-fed irrigated areas.
The BSWM is now coordinating with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines for the cloud seeding operations.
In March, the BSWM rejected the conduct of cloud seeding operations due to lack of seedable clouds, and also due to the probable effect to mango plantations in portions of northern Negros and Guimaras.
Two months later, Lacson said BSWM representatives told him that it is now the best time for cloud seeding operations, as they already noticed seedable clouds.
The conduct of cloud seeding operations may induce more rains, which are welcomed by farmers, he added.
The failure of BSWM to conduct the cloud seeding operations at the height of drought in Negros Occidental has been blamed for losses in sugarcane production, amounting hundreds of millions, blamed by Manuel Lamata, president of United Sugar Producers Federation of the Philippines.*
