The Philippine Online Chronicles

A total of 40 cloud seeding operations in Negros Occidental are being prepared by the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist (OPA) to mitigate the effects of the El Niño phenomenon, which started in September of last year, by inducing rains to fall on agricultural fields that need water.

The province has not had rain since Christmas, and Provincial Agriculturist Igmedio Tabianan said that soil in the southern part of Negros has started drying up and water supply has become scarce, Inquirer reported. In September 2009, the OPA proposed a P17-million budget that will be used in mitigating the effects of El Niño. Tabianan said the budget will be used for the cloud seeding operations, the purchase of open surface pumps, and the procurement of seeds for cash crops, including vegetables as well as fries and fingerlings. Last week, the provincial board approved a budget of P8 million for measures that will alleviate the effects of El Niño.

Business World reported that the province has been conducting cloud seeding operations since the 1990s and has been successful in every operation. Aside from private aircrafts, the OPA has also asked the Philippine Air Force for permission to use its aircraft for the operations, which would need 20 flying hours costing about P1 million.

The El Niño phenomenon is expected to last until April or May. Manifestations of the impacts of El Niño have already showed up in other places as well.

Weather bureau PAGASA reported that Capiz was already in drought condition due to lack of rainfall from August to December last year. Metro Manila could also face water supply shortage as water levels at Angat Dam, the primary source of water in the region, are at six-year lows. Most parts of Luzon and Visayas will also experience below normal rainfall condition. Aside from droughts brought by the dry spell, PAGASA also predicted stronger typhoons to hit the country this year.

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