El Niño task force eyes another cloud seeding

The El Niño Task Force (ENTF) in the province of Bohol had recommended more rounds of Cloud Seeding Operations (CSOs) and urged the Local Government Units (LGUs) to plant more trees or to give teeth in the implementation of Republic Act No. 101761 “An Act Reviving the Observance of Arbor Day by Authorizing the LGUs the Responsibilities for Celebrating the Day for Tree Planting as an Annual Event.”

It has been known during the post assessment meeting of the ENTF held at the office of Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Larry M. Pamugas, Bohol Capitol Building last Monday that there were municipalities not experiencing rains in the height of the cloud seeding operations due to the absence of seedable clouds.

The Task Force is composed of the representatives from the different government line agencies in Bohol.

Leon Parac, Jr., cloud seeding focal person reported that most of the towns did not experience rains especially in areas with no forest. But for those municipalities which have more trees like Bilar, Balilihan, Catigbian, Corella, Pilar, among others had experienced rains because there were seadable clouds. This cloud could easily develop in cold and forested areas.

Engr. Evelyn Putong, from NIA-7, expressed thanks and gratitude to the Provincial Government of Bohol (PGBh) for sponsoring the CSOs that could really help elevate the water levels of the dams especially at the Malinao Dam in Pilar.

The statement of Engr. Putong was contrary to that of Engr. Modesto Membreve, NIA 7 Regional Director who said that the CSOs had no effect to the dams in the province.

Putong underscored the operations and said that it is necessary to have more rounds of CSOs to replenish the water being released from the dams to the service areas for the land preparations.

She disclosed that they conducted several tree planting activities to the watershed areas before but only few survived.

The task force has high hopesin the strong collaboration with the LGUs, Department of Education, and the people in the barangays or in community, the tree planting program would be successful.

Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Pamugas who presided the meeting said the recommendation would be finalized and be submitted to the concern agencies of the government.

The Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) through the Department of Agriculture-Regional Field Office (DA-RFO) 7 have a standby fund worth P2.5 million for the 42-hour CSOs intended for Bohol.

Paracbared that the project was already bidded sometime in March this year and ready for implementation, waiting for the formal request from the province.

Meanwhile, in the quest of planting trees, the R.A. 101761 hereby mandated that all provinces, cities and municipalities with their component barangays shall be required to revive, by appropriate proclamation of their respective local chief executives, an Arbor Day at an appropriate fixed date every calendar year as shall be deemed suitable according to the proper time and season for planting trees in the respective provinces and their respective component municipalities or cities concerned to protect and advance the right of the people to a balanced and healthful ecology in accord with the rhythm and harmony of nature. (AtoyCosap)