• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The Negros Occidental provincial government has sufficient funds to implement programs and projects needed to mitigate the impact of the looming Super El Niño while preparations are being made for possible cloudseeding and other measures to protect agriculture.
Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz II said on Thursday, Oct. 8 that the provincial response teams completed their action plans Wednesday for submission to Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson.
He added that these measures will be endorsed to the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council and eventually forwarded to the Sangguniang Panlalawigan for approval and funding allocation.
“We have enough funds to spend for whatever programs and projects needed,” Diaz said.
He said the province cannot ignore the possibility of severe weather conditions, particularly the potential impact of a prolonged dry spell on agriculture and water resources.
Diaz said the response plans were crafted based on the province’s previous experience in dealing with disasters and extreme weather events.
“This is not a new thing. We have the knowledge and expertise on this. We grew from that experience,” he added.
He also said that Lacson ordered to focus on essential and practical measures rather than adopting overly ambitious programs in addressing the effects of anticipated severe weather conditions.
Among the priorities are the implementation of water impounding and rainwater catchment systems as well as strengthening water impounding facilities used by farmers.
The province has also informed the Office of Civil Defense that it is ready to participate in cloudseeding operations if the need arises, particularly during critical stages of the agricultural cycle when rainfall becomes insufficient.
Diaz said Lacson had also discussed studying the possibility of purchasing an aircraft that could be used for cloud seeding.
However, Diaz said he advised the governor that buying a plane solely for cloud seeding would not be practical because such operations would have only limited and intermittent use.
“If we are going to purchase a plane, cloud seeding is a very, very short use for it,” Diaz said.
Diaz said consultations with people operating aircraft also showed that maintaining a provincial plane could be challenging because of the need for regular maintenance, replacement of parts and qualified pilots.
These requirements could be difficult for a local government unit to sustain, he said.
On the other hand, Diaz said private aircraft operators have offered to lend their planes to the province when needed.
“The good side of it, they said, if the province needs a plane, they are ready to lend us their aircrafts,” he said.
Diaz said the arrangement demonstrates how the private sector and government can work together to address the province’s needs, including possible cloudseeding operations.
He added that cloudseeding could become necessary if rainfall becomes insufficient, particularly in areas already experiencing dry conditions.
Diaz said some areas in northern Negros have been complaining about the lack of rain although the province remains fortunate to receive occasional rainfall. | GPB
