THE Provincial Disaster Risk Reduction Management Office (PDRRMO) of Bulacan said on Monday that the water level of Angat Dam continues to drop despite the official announcement that the rainy season has begun.

As these developed, upland or “sahod ulan” farmers in Bulacan want the government to start implementing cloud seeding operations.

Even the irrigated riceland farmers in Bulacan are worrying about the present water level at Angat Dam.

Records from the Bulacan PDRRMO showed that the water elevation at Angat Dam as of 8 a.m. on Monday is at 188.65 meters.

PDRRMO Officer in Charge Ret. Col. Manuel Lukban said the water level is 23.35 meters below its normal level of 212 meters.

Lukban said that the monthly decrease of Angat Dam’s water level showed that from

March 1 to 31, the level decreased by 7.72 meters. From April 1 to 30, the water level dropped by 6.56 meters and from May 1 to 3, it decreased by 5.21 meters. And from June 1 to 5, the water level dropped by 0.97 meters more.

Simeon Sioson, a farmer leader from Barangay Lambakin in San Miguel town, lamented that the occasional rainfall in their rice lands is not sufficient for them to start their planting preparations.

He and his fellow farmers are urging the concerned agencies and the local government to start enhancing the chance of rain by cloud seeding.

On Friday, the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration announced that the rains brought by the southwest monsoon and the recent passage of Typhoon “Betty” last week signaled the start of the rainy season in the country.