PH Air Force Ready to Support Cloud Seeding Amid El Niño Threat

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Air Force (PAF) said Tuesday that it is ready to provide technical assistance to the Department of Agriculture’s (DA) cloud seeding operations amid the threat of a severe El Niño in the country. The PAF is prepared to offer its aircraft and operational expertise to support the DA’s cloud seeding efforts. Earlier, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that a Super El Niño could persist and potentially lead to prolonged dry spells. El Niño is known to cause reduced rainfall and increased temperatures in the Philippines, which can significantly impact the agricultural sector. Declines in crop yields and production can lead to soaring food prices, directly affecting the livelihoods of citizens. The Air Force's involvement is seen as a crucial measure to counter these threats to food security. Cloud seeding is a technique that involves dispersing substances like silver iodide into clouds to encourage rainfall, offering a potential mitigation strategy against drought conditions. The Philippine government is implementing various measures to minimize the impact of El Niño, with a strong focus on the agricultural sector. The PAF's support is a key component of these adaptation strategies. In the context of Japan-Philippines relations, there have been prior collaborations on disaster response, suggesting potential for further cooperation in climate change adaptation efforts. Source: Inquirer NewsInfo