Liza Quirog
Reassigned Provincial Agriculturist Liza Quirog remains steadfast in her belief that the Php10-Million cloud seeding operation in Bohol pushed by Capitol is no longer required at this time.
Despite differing opinions from experts, Quirog maintains her position as the rainy season settles in.
During her recent interview with Ardy Araneta-Batoy’s “Newsmakers ug Uban Pa” over DyTR, Quirog reiterated her stance.
However, her viewpoint contradicts the findings of various authorities, including colleagues from the Office of the Provincial Agriculture (OPA), the Department of Agriculture (DA), the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), and the Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office (PDRRMO).
These experts argue that cloud seeding remains necessary due to insufficient rainfall in Bohol.
An informal social media survey conducted on June 18, 2024, revealed that the majority of netizens oppose cloud seeding.
Quirog acknowledges that she initiated a cloud seeding request last year, but no operations occurred until mid-June 2024.
Now, recognizing that cloud seeding is no longer essential, she has withdrawn her signature from the purchase request.
Her office was the end user of the cloud seeding operations.
The Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) Committee on Agriculture’s investigation revealed that Bohol’s dams still lack ideal water levels, leaving thousands of hectares unirrigated.
Quirog’s earlier request for cloud seeding aimed to address this water scarcity.
Funding for the cloud seeding operations included P2.5 million from the calamity fund’s preparedness account and P7.5 million from the Bureau of Soil and Water Management (BSWM) under the DA.
Quirog, recently reassigned as a focal person for audit observation reports, withdrew her signature from the purchase request on June 3, 2024, through the bids and awards committee.
She expressed accountability for the consequences of her previous actions.
Current OPA Officer-in-Charge Larry Pamugas is aware of the cloud seeding request and has not opposed it.
Quirog asserts that everyone at the OPA supported the request.
Regarding her reassignment, Quirog, a civil service secured position holder, remains uncertain about the reasons.
However, she recalls a disagreement during a meeting with Provincial Administrator Asteria Caberte regarding military personnel compensation related to cloud seeding expenses.
Despite these challenges, Quirog stands by her conviction that cloud seeding is no longer necessary in Bohol.
PAGASA, DA clash over cloud seeding operations
Meanwhile, conflicting voices have emerged over the necessity of cloud seeding operations.
The Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) has officially declared the onset of the rainy season, but an extension worker from the Department of Agriculture (DA) insists that cloud seeding remains relevant.
PAGASA’s pronouncement came during the last week of May, as nimbus clouds gathered over Bohol’s watersheds.
Ariel Abalos, representing PAGASA Bohol, emphasized this announcement during an exclusive interview.
Rainfall has been reported in various towns, signaling the arrival of the wet season.
Cecile Opada, a DA-7 extension worker, has raised eyebrows by advocating for continued cloud seeding.
Despite recent rains, Opada insists that this weather modification technique is still necessary.
However, questions linger about her expertise in meteorology.
Quirog, when pressed about Opada’s scientific background, admitted she was unaware of any such credentials.
Opada’s focus on extension work—communicating with farmers and end users—may not align with the specialized domain of PAGASA.
Science Behind Cloud Seeding Cloud seeding involves introducing salt particles into seedable clouds to induce rain.
Reports suggest that previous cloud seeding efforts in Bohol were successful.
However, some observers worry that continuing these operations during the rainy season could be wasteful.
Ariel Abalos, echoing PAGASA’s stance, emphasized that climatologists and weather forecasters are the true experts in determining climate conditions.
He clarified that an agriculturist lacks the extensive meteorological knowledge of a trained meteorologist.
Abalos agreed that Opada’s insistence on cloud seeding might be misplaced.
In an exclusive report by GMA News, it was revealed that Bohol’s cloud seeding operations lacked coordination with PAGASA’s regional office in Cebu.
Abalos denied issuing any statement supporting cloud seeding.
He attributed Bohol’s recent rains to natural occurrences, not cloud seeding.
While the technical data from his office remains neutral, the decision-making lies elsewhere.
DOUBTS AND QUESTIONS
In a country grappling with environmental challenges, the recent cloud seeding operations in Bohol have come under scrutiny.
The controversial program, aimed at enhancing rainfall during the wet season, has raised questions about fiscal responsibility and the efficacy of such interventions.
EXPENSIVE Flights
According to the contract, the cloud seeding provider is guaranteed 25 hours of flight time within 30 days.
However, recent reports indicate that the actual flight hours have fallen significantly short of this commitment.
If the provider fails to meet the 25-hour threshold by July 10, the provincial government will still be obligated to pay for the full 25 hours.
Adding to the financial burden are the “ferry flights,” which account for an additional 2 hours of flying time.
These ferry flights, despite being non-operational for cloud seeding, are billed at the same rate as active seeding flights.
Consequently, the total cost exceeds the actual hours spent on cloud seeding.
The contract also includes one maintenance day per week, reducing the effective operational days to 26 within the 30-day period.
However, since the program’s launch on June 11, the cloud seeding plane has flown only four times, accumulating a mere 5.5 hours of flight time.
With just 11 days remaining until July 1, the situation remains precarious, especially considering the looming La Niña weather phenomenon.
People’s Money Wasted
Critics argue that the government’s allocation of funds for cloud seeding during the rainy season and potential La Niña conditions raises serious concerns.
With a six-month wet season calendar (from May to October), the urgency to fill water dams seems misplaced.
Can 48 hours of cloud seeding truly replenish the reservoirs across Bohol’s 58,000 hectares of farmland, critics have asked.
As the cloud seeding scandal unfolds, citizens, led by Board Member Mimi Boniel, demand transparency and accountability.
The judicious use of public funds remains paramount, especially when faced with pressing environmental challenges, Boniel said in a privileged speech at an SP session last week.
With only 5.5 hours of flight time in the past two weeks, the cloud seeding program’s impact on Bohol’s agriculture remains uncertain, reports reaching Boniel’s office said.
EL NIÑO DAMAGE
The El Niño-induced drought has wreaked havoc on crops and livestock in Bohol, causing a staggering P458 million in agricultural damages.
According to Assistant Provincial Agriculturist Larry Pamugas, approximately 22,000 farmers across the island have been affected by this phenomenon, which prevented them from preparing their lands for crop planting due to water scarcity.
Typically, farmers begin land preparation in June, but so far, only a few have commenced the process, particularly those located near water-impounding areas.
Based on reports from 10 municipalities, only 233 hectares have been readied for planting, significantly below the total 58,000 hectares of farmland in the province.
Despite the onset of the rainy season, rainfall has not been sufficient for farmers to recover from the months-long drought. Pamugas, a proponent of controversial cloud-seeding operations, emphasizes the need for continued artificial rain generation.
However, Board Member Mimi Boniel has criticized these operations as a “waste of funds,” calling for a redirection of resources to more pressing matters.
PREPARED
In an effort to boost agricultural productivity, farmers in Bohol have been diligently preparing their land for planting.
According to Pamugas, the officer in charge of the Office of the Provincial Agriculture, a total of 233 hectares of rice fields and 217 hectares of cornfields have undergone land preparation.
The recent rains have facilitated this crucial step, with 233 hectares of rice paddies out of the province’s total 258,000 hectares now ready for planting.
Pamugas reported that specific areas have seen progress: 13 hectares in Clarin, 50 hectares in Sierra Bullones, 50 hectares in Garcia-Hernandez, 70 hectares in Jagna, and 50 hectares in San Miguel.
Despite this progress, it’s important to note that this represents only 0.09% of Bohol’s entire rice-growing area.
The remaining 257,767 hectares still require preparation, he said.
In addition to rice, preparations have also been made for other crops.
Approximately 217.5 hectares of cornfields out of the province’s 15,000 hectares have been readied.
High-value crops occupy 73.75 hectares, while 3 hectares are dedicated to cassava (balanghoy) and 6.25 hectares to purple yam (ube).
However, the challenge remains: sufficient rainfall is necessary for further land preparation.
Cloud seeding operations are being considered to ensure adequate water supply for farmers as they gear up for planting in October.
Bohol’s agricultural community remains hopeful that these efforts will lead to a bountiful harvest in the coming months, Pamugas said.