PROVINCIAL Board Member Mimi Boniel (Second District, Bohol), one of the four remaining opposition at the SP, wanted what she called \u201cwasteful\u201d cloud seeding halted since it\u2019s already rainy days in Bohol.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She called the use of fund for cloud seeding as \u201cimprudent\u201d and suggested to redirect its use for other needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cContinuing 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,\u201d she said in her privilege speech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Boniel, at the end of her privilege speech, moved for passage of a resolution for the governor\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was a good move to abort the voting since Boniel\u2019s group would be at a disadvantage considering the administration has the number.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
BM Binlod, the vice-chair of agriculture committee, proposed such referral of Boniel\u2019s motion and it was approved. He promised that Boniel\u2019s concern be taken up during the committee\u2019s meeting last week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But veteran BM Tomas Abapo, Jr. suggested that Boniel\u2019s concern be referred to the Committee of the Whole, which is now chaired by Baja.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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 Ni\u00f1o intervention, like irrigation needs for 402 people\u2019s organization; the P30 million indemnification fund courtesy of the Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation; and the calamity fund of P2.5 million for cloud seeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The declaration of state of calamity for Bohol has not been lifted yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
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)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
PROVINCIAL Board Member Mimi Boniel (Second District, Bohol), one of the four remaining opposition at the SP, wanted what she called \u201cwasteful\u201d cloud seeding halted since it\u2019s already rainy days in Bohol. This came after she challenged the administration to put a halt of the plan during session last week<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8450,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[7,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-10860","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","category-top-stories",""],"yoast_head":"\n