A cloud seeding operation will be launched to boost the water reserve of the mammoth Pantabangan Dam, once cleared by the Department of National Defense, according to officials.
Engr. Rosalinda B. Bote, department manager of the National Irrigation Administration-Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation System, said a carrier from the Philippine Air Force’s 900th Air Force Weather Group is at standby position in Fort Ramon Magsaysay for the cloud-seeding operation.
“Pandagdag lang sa Pantabangan Dam ‘yung cloud seeding since very positive kami mag-uulan pa hanggang January,” Bote said in a Punto Central Luzon report.
She added that her agency will start irrigation for the dry cropping season in the middle of November.
The NIA-UPRIIS has programmed 109,642.48 hectares for irrigation during the dry season based on the projected elevation of 205.27 meters by November 30.
Bote said NIA-UPRIIS employs several strategies to augment and maximize use of water such as establishing solar-powered pump projects, implementation of alternate wetting and drying water management technology and promotion of diversified cropping system.
