Government commissions additional planes for cloud-seeding operations

By Ronron
July 31, 2007

The Philippine government is now using eight aircrafts to conduct cloud-seeding operations in northern and central Luzon to cushion the impact of the dry spell the country is experiencing.

Office of Civil Defense Administrator Glen Rabonza told reporters in Camp Aguinaldo that the five additional aircrafts to the three that have started cloud-seeding operations about two weeks ago started participating in the activity yesterday (Tuesday).

“We’re producing rains but we need to produce more because the area where we need to induce rain is widespread,” Rabonza said in a phone-patch interview.

He said one aircraft was added to the one being used in Bulacan; two were added to the one being used in La Union; and another two were added to the one being used in Cagayan Valley.

Except for the two Philippine Air Force aircrafts being used in La Union and in Cagayan Valley, the six other aircrafts are private and are being paid for by the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Soil and Water Management.

Rabonza said each aircraft was contracted at P1.7 million for twice a day operations for one month. The said amount would also include expenses for chemicals, cost of fuel, salt, and other logistics.

“It is daily because we need that while the dry spell is continuing,” Rabonza said.

He said it is the assessment of the Agriculture department that the use of eight aircrafts would be enough to produce more rains.

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo alarmed the country around two weeks ago about the dry spell, which, if it stays on until this month, could result to the country experiencing a drought in September.

The “weird” weather condition is being blamed by experts to global warming./DMS