By JEN BAYLON

Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson has defended the conduct of cloud seeding, which aims to mitigate the effects of the El Niño phenomenon on agriculture in the province, as it has been met with criticism lately.

“This cloud seeding thing is getting controversial because there are critics who are saying, ‘Why do we do cloud seeding now when there are already seedable clouds?’” Lacson said.

“I just want to inform the public why we are still considering cloud seeding,” he added.

Lacson said the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) observed that there were no seedable clouds in March, at the height of the drought caused by El Niño.

If they were forced to release the materials for cloud seeding, it would have a low chance of resulting in rain, Lacson said.

“[The BSWM] came back to us in May. Now is the best time for cloud seeding because, obviously, the clouds we have now are seedable,” he added.

Lacson said cloud seeding may be happening this week to induce more rains.

The governor said he was informed that the procurement of materials for the cloud seeding had been made.

He added that the BSWM has been coordinating with the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines and the suppliers.

Meanwhile, Lacson said the cloud seeding is welcomed by local farmers.

He said he recently spoke with local sugarcane planters who expressed their dissatisfaction with the current natural rainfall and its impact on their crops, particularly in areas without irrigation systems.

“I asked them, ‘Are you happy with the rain that we’re receiving naturally?’ They said no,” Lacson said.

“I asked, ‘Do you want more rains?’ And they said, ‘Of course, especially in areas that are not irrigated,’” he added.

Earlier, the Department of Agriculture in Western Visayas (DA-6) allowed cloud seeding operations in Negros Occidental to mitigate the effects of the El Niño phenomenon on crops.

Around P6 million in funds will be needed for cloud seeding, the DA-6 said./JB, WDJ