The Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) and the Philippine Air Force (PAF) conducted an orientation on cloud seeding for the contingency committee and the task force of the Puerto Princesa City Water District (PPCWD) for the operation on May 8.
City water district acting information Jenn Rausa said Tuesday that the orientation is needed to help the team understand the technical aspect of the cloud seeding operation.
“Ito kina-conduct natin kasi kami personally, hindi ganoon ka-technical ‘yong alam namin. Ang alam lang natin ay ‘yong basic na gagawin so kapag na-i-share sa atin ng BSWM and Philippine Air Force ‘yong talagang gagawin nila sa pag-operate ng cloud seeding ay malalaman natin,” Rausa said.
Some information released particularly by the PAF during the orientation, she said, cannot be disclosed for security purposes.
BSWM representative Corazon Ditarro, engineer II, said the operation will be daily. Its suspension, however, will depend on the sufficiency of the water supply in Campo Uno dam.
She said even if the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical, and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) already declared the onset of the rainy season, they will still assess the sufficiency of water supply.
“Ang operation ay araw-araw, pupunta sa airport. Kapag nag-declare na ng onset na rainy season si PAGASA, we have to assess doon pa rin sa laman na ng inyong dam, kung sufficient na ba ‘yon kasi nasa 30 to 40 hours ang kontrata,” she said.
If all the contracted hours are not consumed before the onset of the rainy season, the remaining hours may be used should there be a need to do cloud seeding again.
Rausa said the orientation will help them to be informed and provide assistance to the personnel involved in the operation.
“Mas ma-inform kami at mas makakapagbigay pa kami ng assistance kasi initially ang ginawa pa lang natin, nagbigay tayo ng parang task force for cloud seeding mula sa ating opisina tapos kung sakali na yong ina-allot natin na empleyado ay kulangin pa, kung may mabibigay pa silang information, mas makapagbibigay pa kami,” she added.
