City-initiated cloud seeding yields results
The first and initial cloud seeding sortie Sunday yielded positive results as heavy rains fell in the mountains of Bungiao and Tolosa in the east coast.
The cloud seeding operation is conducted by the Department of Agriculture based on the request of Mayor Celso Lobregat to help boost rainfall and eventually improve water levels in reservoirs and help in irrigation purposes.
The city agriculturist office under Diosdado Palacat is still checking other areas in the city where rain fell following the cloud seeding operation last Sunday.
Mayor Lobregat said strong rains, as attested by people in Bungiao and Tolosa, fell in the areas concerned barely few hours after the cloud seeding operations around 10 a.m. Sunday.
The cloud seeding team composed of personnel from the DA’s Bureau of Soil and Water Management has been on standby at the airport hangar since Saturday awaiting for “seedable” clouds in coordination with the local weather bureau, PAG-ASA. A Cessna plane, PR-9000 was loaded with several sacks of salt for dispersal above seedable clouds.
Based on request of Mayor Lobregat, Agriculture Secretary Arthur Yap allocated some P2.7 million for cloud seeding operations in Zamboanga and some parts of the region to help cushion the impact of the dry spell, El Nino.
The team, led by Teddy Bersabe, is based in Zamboanga and is expected to conduct about 10 cloud seeding sorties. In every sortie, expenses are expected to reach P30,000.
Mayor Lobregat said cloud seeding is one of the interventions being done by the city government to help alleviate the plight of the local residents amidst the dry spell which has caused water and power shortage and damages to agriculture and fishery products. However, he stressed that the dry spell is not only affecting Zamboanga City but entire Mindanao and country.
Palacat has reported some P400,000 damage to crops and fishery products but stressed that measures are being undertaken to help farmers cushion the impact of the El Nino phenomenon.
In a meeting prior to the cloud seeding operations last week, officials from the Zamboanga City Water District told Mayor Lobregat that would be willing to give a counterpart fund if and when the DA-funded cloud seeding operations turn out to be successful.
Mayor Lobregat it is recalled has also suggested the conduct of cloud seeding operations in the area of Lake Lanao to help improve water level, as these are the main source of hydro power plants in Mindanao.
The cloud seeding in Lake Lanao will have to be undertaken by the Department of Energy, the mayor suggested. (Sheila Covarrubias)