The United Sugar Producers’ Federation of the Philippines (Unifed) has called on the government to immediately carry out cloud seeding operations as dry conditions linked to a possible El Niño begin to affect crops.
In a statement, Unifed said it had written to the Department of Agriculture, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA), and the Negros Occidental provincial government, warning that lack of rainfall could reduce yields and lead to major losses for farmers and workers in the sugar industry.
The group stressed that early cloud seeding could help ease water shortages, support irrigation, and protect sugarcane production.
The SRA said it is preparing for cloud seeding in coordination with local governments but has yet to estimate how a weak El Niño may impact sugar output.
Latest data showed Philippine raw sugar production reached 2.09 million metric tons in crop year 2024–2025, up 8.8 percent from the previous year and the highest level since 2020–2021.
Meanwhile, Unifed also opposed a planned increase in real property taxes in Negros Occidental. The group urged authorities to delay the hike, saying it would add financial strain on farmers, homeowners, and businesses still recovering from economic difficulties.
The tax adjustment is tied to a proposed schedule of market values for real estate, which affects property-related taxes. Unifed warned that raising taxes now could slow economic recovery and worsen the situation for many residents already facing rising costs.
