Sugar Regulatory Administration allocates P13M for cloud-seeding

The Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) has allocated P13 million for a second round of cloud-seeding operations scheduled for November. This initiative aims to mitigate the effects of a Super El Niño and protect sugarcane crops in the Negros and Panay regions.

The first phase of the campaign, which ran from September 7 to October 14 with P6 million in funding from the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Soils and Water Management, reportedly achieved a 100 percent rainfall success rate. The initial operation involved 52 flight hours and the deployment of 11,400 kilograms of vacuum sodium chloride.

Despite the success, officials noted significant operational challenges caused by the eruption of Mount Kanlaon. These included reduced visibility and the risk of volcanic ash entering aircraft air-intake systems, which could compromise engine performance and flight safety. Other constraints included limited targets due to varying stages of crop growth.