Cloud seeding anew in Cebu until June 2

A TEAM from the state weather bureau Pagasa in Manila is expected to arrive in Cebu today to conduct cloud-seeding operations in the province until June 2.

Pagasa Visayas Director Oscar Tabada said the team is joined by representatives of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Bureau of Soils and Water Management of the Department of Agriculture (DA) and cloud-seeding consultants.

“Once they arrive (today) and there are seedable clouds, we’ll conduct an operation immediately. There’s no reason to delay,” he said.

Pagasa, through their Doppler radars, will determine which areas have seedable clouds.

The original schedule was supposed to start yesterday, but some members of the team had difficulty booking a flight to Cebu.

Last April 21, Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III requested for cloud-seeding operations in the province after learning that Pagasa conducted the same in Bohol to address the effects of El Niño.

The operations will be done in coordination with the Philippine Air Force (PAF) and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).

Tabada said for Cebu alone, the national government set aside P1.5 million for cloud seeding.

Each aerial reconnaissance time for seedable clouds will cost P100,000 with operations spread throughout today until June 2, Tabada said.

At least five sacks of silver iodide, or the substance used to seed the clouds and artificially create rainfall, will be used.

“The cloud-seeding operations will be for the whole province. However, we will prioritize areas where there are dams so that once it rains, these will be refilled,” he said.