Tolentino seeks US Navy help in cloud seeding

Senator Francis Tolentino PHOTOS BY MIKE ALQUINTO

MANILA, Philippines: Senator Francis Tolentino hopes the United States Navy would help the Philippines conduct cloud seeding operations to help farmers experiencing extreme dry conditions because of El Niño.

Tolentino on Monday said the US Navy’s cloud-seeding assistance “would add value to the current maritime cooperation” between the two countries.

“I look forward to the involvement of US Navy planes in assisting us in cloud-seeding operations to help us combat El Niño,” Tolentino said in a press briefing.

It would also help the farmers who could not plant rice due to scarce rainfall and intense heat, he said.

Tolentino said the help that the US Navy would provide could still be covered by its humanitarian missions in the Philippines.

The senator said El Niño could also be considered a natural calamity.

Tolentino said the Department of Agriculture does not have any cloud-seeding planes.

“They have to hire [or rent]. What if we ask for help from the US Navy? Their Navy planes are very capable. They do that (cloud seeding) in California,” he said.

“If we request them to conduct cloud seeding in areas experiencing dry spells, I believe it would ease the problem of farmers who could not plant rice,” he added.