September 7, 2015
Visayan Daily Star (Carla P. Gomez) | http://goo.gl/vTn8X9
The Sugar Regulatory Administration is preparing for any abrupt climatic changes and abnormal weather patterns, which may have a significant effect on the sugarcane plantations in the country, a press release from the SRA said yesterday.
Administrator Ma. Regina Martin said strategic locations for irrigation, catch basins and drainage systems are now being identified, through the cooperation and assistance of the Mill District Development Councils as well as the sugar mills.
During the early part of this year, the SRA, in cooperation with the Philippine Sugar Producers Association, conducted a workshop entitled “Responding to the Changing Climate Patterns,” MDDCs initially identified the measures and facilities required to adapt and possibly mitigate the effect of the changing climatic patterns to the sugarcane plantations, the press release said.
Martin is also requesting the MDDCs and the sugar mills to identify their most strategic locations where shallow tube wells, small water impounding systems or catch basins and drainage systems, including forecasted schedules of cloud seeding, could be installed.
The SRA is also tapping possible government funding resources for its plan to prepare project proposals for 2016, the press release added.*