• GILBERT P. BAYORAN
The request for the conduct of cloud seeding in Negros Occidental continues to snowball as members of the Association of Chief Executives (ACE) led by Victorias City Mayor Javier Miguel Benitez called on the Department of Agriculture to do it immediately as possible.
In a resolution approved by the Negros ACE during its special meeting on May 10, the mayors said there is a need to promptly and adequately address the massive and extensive drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon.
“This abnormal phenomenon has severely depleted our water resource, has devastated in huge measure our agricultural communities due to substantial damage and losses in their crops, has brought unmitigated distresses to our farmers and their families and has disastrously affected the economy of the province resulting in the alarming increase of number of cities and municipalities in Negros Occidental which have been placed in a state of calamity,” the resolution said.
The drought has destroyed P535.6 million in crops and livestock in Negros Occidental as of last week.
“The urgency of the situation demands immediate action to prevent further deterioration in our agriculture, safeguard the livelihood of our farmers, and ensure food security for the people of Negros Occidental,” it added.
Rep. Emilio Bernardino Yulo earlier called on the DA to conduct cloud seeding operation in the fifth district, which has been badly affected by the drought.
Price freeze on basic commodities is now being implemented by the Department of Trade and Industry in Kabankalan City, Valladolid and San Enrique, which have been placed under state of calamity.
Provincial Agriculturist Dina Genzola said the DA and Bureau of Water and Soil Management (BSWM) is now monitoring the availability of seedable clouds in Western Visayas.
BSWM earlier ruled out the conduct of a cloud seeding operation due to lack of seedable clouds. | GB
