by Priam Nepomuceno/PNA
The Philippine Air Force (PAF) on Wednesday said it is more than ready to assist the Department of Agriculture (DA) in its cloud seeding efforts aimed at mitigating the effects of water shortage in many areas.
In an interview, Maj. Aristides Galang, PAF spokesperson, said talks with the DA are now underway regarding this matter.
“Okay lang naman, prepared tayo sa ganyan, we have the capability naman talaga, nakakapag-conduct naman tayobefore ng mga cloud seeding (Everything is okay. We are prepared for that. We have the capability. We have conducted cloud seeding operations before),” he said.
Galang added that before seeding can be done, seedable clouds must be first located in the area scheduled for the operation.
Cloud seeding, a form of weather modification, is the attempt to change the amount or type of precipitation that falls from clouds, by dispersing substances into the air that serve as cloud condensation or ice nuclei, which alter the microphysical processes within the cloud.
The procedure can be done by any fixed wing aircraft of the PAF including the Cessna LC-210 of the 900th Air Force Weather Group based in Villamor Air Base, Pasay City.
