The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) is allocating P30 million for cloud seeding operations in the Visayas to mitigate the effects of the super El Niño, Manuel Lamata, president of the United Sugar Producers Federation, said Friday, Oct. 30.
Lamata, in a press statement, said he received a letter from SRA Administrator Pablo Luis Azcona dated October 26, confirming that SRA has already set aside the budget for cloud seeding operations particularly in Negros Island and Panay.
‘We are thankful to Administrator Azcona for proactively addressing our concerns and we are hoping that the budget is more than enough to get us through the super El Nino’, Lamata said.
Lamata said he was informed that the cloud seeding operations will commence in November.
He, however criticized Negros Occidental Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson for his perceived ‘inaction’ on their funding request.
‘UNIFED has been calling on the Governor to provide funding for cloud seeding for years now but it has fallen on deaf ears. This, despite knowing that the sugar industry is the lifeblood of Negros,’ Lamata said.
He pointed out the recent report from the Provincial Agriculturist Office showed that more than P42 million losses in rice and corn were due to El Niño.
‘This is not just numbers for news. This could have been averted if our provincial government has the foresight to address this drought as we have been forewarned about this early on. Should we wait for losses to reach hundreds of millions before we act?’ Lamata asked.
Meanwhile, Lamata thanked Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel for funding cloud seeding operations last month and the announcement that the DA will also allocate additional budget for cloud seeding by next year.
‘These actions from Azcona and Laurel, especially during these dire times when we are faced with drought, pest infestation, rising cost of fuel and farm inputs, show their concern for the sugar industry and we are very grateful that we have proactive leaders like them’ Lamata said.