Negros Occidental Allocates P411 Million for Disaster Preparedness in 2027

The Negros Occidental provincial government is allocating P411 million for disaster risk reduction and management programs in 2027. This move is in preparation for an anticipated dry spell, projected by the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) to begin in October and potentially extend through the first or second quarter of 2027. Out of the total P411 million budget, approximately P287 million (70 percent) will be dedicated to funding disaster risk reduction programs, projects, and activities. The remaining P123 million (30 percent) will be available for other disaster-related needs. The province also maintains a Quick Response Fund of at least P109 million for immediate interventions during disasters and emergencies. Concurrently, Manuel Lamata, president of the United Sugar Producers Federation (Unifed), has appealed to the Department of Agriculture for supplementary funds to sustain and broaden cloud-seeding operations across the Negros Island Region (NIR). Lamata highlighted the critical role of cloud seeding in mitigating drought-induced stress on sugarcane crops and in curbing the proliferation of the Red-striped Soft Scale Insect (RSSI). This pest, which thrives in dry conditions, has already impacted thousands of hectares of sugarcane plantations in Negros, exacerbating threats to agricultural productivity already heightened by the prevailing dry weather. "As the country’s top sugar-producing province, we must be self-reliant in responding to recurring climate threats and pest outbreaks," Lamata asserted. Cloud-seeding operations have already been initiated in the NIR and Panay, with each area having completed four sorties. Lamata underscored the necessity of sustained funding and long-term preparedness for Negros' agricultural sector, given the repeated implementation of cloud seeding in recent years. The province's proactive disaster preparedness measures and Unifed's advocacy for expanded cloud seeding are particularly pertinent as the island grapples with the compounded challenges of prolonged drought, diminished agricultural yields, and the persistent RSSI infestation. Source: Philstar Nation