PROVINCIAL Board Member Mimi Boniel (Second District, Bohol), one of the four remaining opposition at the SP, wanted what she called “wasteful” cloud seeding halted since it’s already rainy days in Bohol.
This came after she challenged the administration to put a halt of the plan during session last week presided over by acting senior Board Member Tita V. Baja, who is acting as vice-governor.
She called the use of fund for cloud seeding as “imprudent” and suggested to redirect its use for other needs.
“Continuing with these operations in the light of the abundant rainfall would not only be an imprudent use of funds but also a disregard for the natural water resources that have been bestowed upon us,” she said in her privilege speech.
Boniel, at the end of her privilege speech, moved for passage of a resolution for the governor’s office to halt the cloud seeding, but only to be met with objection by BM Nathaniel Binlod, who was once her comrade in the opposition.
To avert the voting after Binlod objected to her proposed Resolution, a recess was called by BM Benjie Arcamo and approved by the presiding officer. And it resulted to Boniel agreeing to withdraw her motion (for said Resolution) and refer her concern to the agriculture committee.
It was a good move to abort the voting since Boniel’s group would be at a disadvantage considering the administration has the number.
BM Binlod, the vice-chair of agriculture committee, proposed such referral of Boniel’s motion and it was approved. He promised that Boniel’s concern be taken up during the committee’s meeting last week.
But veteran BM Tomas Abapo, Jr. suggested that Boniel’s concern be referred to the Committee of the Whole, which is now chaired by Baja.
The cloud seeding, which has already started to induce seedable cloud for rain, was funded by the Department of Agriculture (DA) Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) to the tune of P5 million downloaded to the provincial government.
Boniel also wanted the use of funds that she allegedly said was not realized be investigated. These funds include the P23.4 million as El Niño intervention, like irrigation needs for 402 people’s organization; the P30 million indemnification fund courtesy of the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation; and the calamity fund of P2.5 million for cloud seeding.
The declaration of state of calamity for Bohol has not been lifted yet.
Capitol said that the total damage of crops has hiked to P458,744,648.33 as of June 6, from the validated reports of 41 out of 47 towns from earlier report of P420 million plus.
The damage is broken down as follows: P454,845,419.33 for crops; P1,949,335 for fisheries from 13 municipalities, and P1,949,894 for livestock from eight municipalities based on the report of the Office of the Provincial Agriculturist. (rvo)
