• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Amid more than P115 million in crop damages brought about by the drought which has affected 3,312 farmers in Negros Occidental, the provincial government is not yet considering a declaration of state of calamity as of this time, Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson disclosed.
Lacson however said that the provincial government is giving P2,000 financial assistance to each of the affected farmers in 153 barangays of 22 local government units.
The Bureau of Soils and Water Management, which is supervised by the DA, has also denied the request of Negros Occidental officials to conduct cloud seeding operations in the province, due to lack of viable clouds and moisture.
BSWM added that its stand is based on science.
“What we can do is ask if the conditions have changed,” Lacson said.
BSWM also said that induced rains may affect 20,659 mango trees in fruit development in San Carlos City and 2,752 trees in Guimaras.
Negros Occidental 5th District Rep. Emilio Yulo has enlisted the help of Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrellla III to help convince Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel to conduct cloud seeding operations in Negros Occidental.*
