The Negros Occidental provincial government will conduct cloud seeding operations after Holy Week to bring on rains following a long dry spell that is taking its toll on crops, Gov. Joseph Marañon said yesterday.

He said the leaves of cane in southern Negros Occidental are turning yellow in some areas. But rice in irrigated areas are surviving, he said.

The provincial government is allocating not more than P1 million for the cloud seeding operation, with an initial P300,000 to be released for 600 bags of salt to be used to induce rain, he said.

 

MWD head defends
rates of water district

Ruben Tañeza, OIC general manager of Murcia Water District, defended their water rates after a group of Murcia residents questioned the cost they are charging to consumers.

He said that MWD is currently charging minimal rates compared to other water districts in Negros Occidental, at P70 for 1-5 cubic meters and P120 for up to 10 cubic meters. But the MWD has requested the Local Water Utilities Administration to allow them to impose a minimum charge of P150 starting July 1 this year.

At present, Bacolod charges a minimum rate of P173; Kabankalan, P150; Bago, P152; Binalbagan, P215; Himamaylan, P200; and Sipalay, P279, based on the figures provided by Tañeza.

Iloilo farmers installed
in Florete landholding

The Department of Agrarian Reform recently 97 farmers at the Florete estate in Brgy. Igbong, Barotac Nuevo, Iloilo, the Philippine Information Agency reported yesterday.

Provincial Agrarian Reform Officer II Ricardo Fernandez led the installation ceremony of farmers who were awarded almost 186 hectares of the property formerly owned by Marcelino Florete of the Florete - Caperonce Agro. Commercial Corp.

The entire landholding has a total area of 189 hectares, of which 185.8568 hectares were subjected to Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program. A collective Certificate of Land Ownership Award has been registered with the Register of Deeds in 1997 in favor of the farmers.

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