• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
Fifth District Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo has enlisted the help of Agrarian Reform Secretary Conrado Estrellla III to convince Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel to conduct cloudseeding operations in Negros Occidental.
In a dialog with Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) officials after the distribution of certificates of land ownership award to 2,797 agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs) in Bago City on Monday, Yulo relayed the concerns of many farmers, whose farms have been severely hit by the ongoing drought.
The Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), which is being supervised by DA, has denied the request of Negros Occidental officials to conduct cloudseeding operations due to lack of viable clouds and moisture.
BSWM also said that induced rains may affect the 20,659 mango trees in fruit development in San Carlos City, and also 2,752 mango trees in Guimaras.
Yulo said that the ARBs, who have no capacity for irrigation system, are now suffering losses in crop production because of the drought.
The Negrense lawmaker said he is hoping that Estrella will bring the pressing concerns of ARBs and farmers to the attention of Laurel.
Estrella assured Yulo that he will relay the concerns of farmers in Negros Occidental to the DA chief.
As of April 2, damage to crops has been pegged at more than P97 million, affecting 2,585 farmers in 20 of 31 local government units in Negros Occidental. | GB
