Wanted: Rain-making planes for El Niño

The Philippine Air Force (PAF) is in need of special aircraft to combat a different kind of foe — the El Niño phenomenon.

Senate President Pro Tempore Manuel Villar Jr. said yesterday the PAF’s cloud-seeding task force currently has no plane for operations that will generate rainfall during the dry spell.

Citing a report by the 900th Air Force Weather Group, Villar said three Cessna planes involved in seeding operations have now been reverted to their original purpose as training aircraft.

"Given the possible impact of the El Niño on our agriculture, there is a need to acquire aircraft that will be used for cloud-seeding operations," said Villar, who chairs the Senate committee on food and agriculture.

He stressed that everything must be done to mitigate the effects of El Niño, including cloud-seeding in areas with limited rainfall.

"Priority must be given to providing planes for cloud-seeding as soon as possible," the senator said.

The cost of a second-hand Cessna 421 aircraft for use in such operations is about P9 million. Col. Lino Lapinid, commander of the 900th Air Force Weather Group, said at least three planes are needed to conduct nationwide operations. — Aurea Calica