Thursday, June 02, 2011

Aklan Rivers Development Is Glimmer of Hope


by ERNESTO T. SOLIDUM




Picture at right shows Engr. Rizalo Concepcion of the Aklan - Capiz Irrigation System discussing the effect of irrigation water and crop production especially rice. At his left are Mr. Odon S. Bandiola and Mr. Edwin Ramos.


Engr. Rizalo F. Concepcion, Manager, Division A, Aklan – Capiz Irrigation Management Office is the lone Kapihan guest on May 28, 2011 at Smokehauz Resto & Bar. He discussed the state of irrigation system in Aklan and its rehabilitation efforts to maximize the delivery of services to farmers.


Mr. Odon S. Bandiola, SP Secretary recalled that former Defense Sec. Juan Ponce Enrile cautioned Aklan’s leadership not to rely heavily on tourism but more importantly on agriculture for sustained growth and stability. Today, he is proven right for his uncanny insight. The 2006 – 2009 data of National Statistics Coordination Board show Aklan has the highest poverty incidence of 42 percent in Region 6. In effect, 14 out of 17 towns are under receivership of the Conditional Cash Transfer program of the Aquino Administration. Poverty threshold for a family of 6 members is P162.00 per day to defray expenses for basic life essentials like food, clothing, shelter, medicine and others.


According to Dr. Ambrosio R. Villorente, poverty and want crop up because families do not consider virtues of honest labor, patience, and thrift. It is appalling to note that in the 1960’s, only about 20 percent of total population was poor. Today, we have more than doubled this number. Apparently, our priorities are in the wrong direction which need adjustment.


On irrigation, Dr. Villorente, former Director of Agricultural Training Institute mentioned that rice is semi-aquatic plant that requires massive quantities of water for optimum growth. Data of IRRI show that for every one kgm. of palay harvested, 5,000 kgms. of water was used.


Engr. Concepcion said that RA 3601 or National Irrigation Act was passed on June 22, 1963 and approved by Pres. Diosdado Macapagal. NIA’s total service area in Aklan cover 4,476 hectares during the wet season but shrinks to 4,200 hectares in the dry months. The Aklan River Irrigation System covers six towns namely Kalibo, New Washington, Banga, Lezo, Makato, and Numancia. On the other hand, Panakuyan River Irrigation System serves eight barangays of Ibajay.


NIA has well served Aklanon farmers for the past 44 years and considering the passage of time, coverage area has diminished by 30 percent. Due to personnel retrenchment, NIA’s remarkable force was reduced to a skeleton. More management responsibility and autonomy are transferred to registered Farmers’ Irrigators Assn. "Our job is concentrated on providing technical supervision, human resource development and posting collection targets from our member – consumers," Engr. Concepcion said.


Irrigation service fees depend upon the season but payable after harvest time. The rate is P1,500 per hectare wet season or payment in kind of 100 kgms palay (dry) and P2,250 per hectare, dry season or 150 kgms palay (dry).


Collection efficiency over the years remain very low at 70 percent because of inadequacies to meet farmers’ expectations. Based on funding requirement P80,000 per hectare is needed to rehabilitate an existing irrigation facility. This means having a budgetary outlay of P358.0 million.


Data from the Department of Agriculture, Aklan show that of 17,120 hectares planted to rice, only 6,712 hectares or 29.2 percent are irrigated. Considering that 5.0 metric tons per hectare is optimum yield under irrigation and double cropped per year, farmers lost considerable advantage to become a major rice exporter.


In particular, Panakuyan River Irrigation System in Ibajay is capable to irrigate 1,200 hectares, but due to financial oversight, it can only service 504 hectares. Still without irrigation water are Tagbaya, Ondoy, and Aquino in Ibajay, and Solido, Nabas.


Access service roads of NIA Aklan total 86 kms. straddling several barangays. This facility is suitable only for light vehicles, never 10 wheeler trucks. Most are ill-maintained and will be appreciated if part of barangay IRA fund be used for regular maintenance.


It is also reported that some misguided elements are encroaching their way into public property. Constructing unauthorized fence enclosures and plowing edges of service roads are forbidden and illegal. Other farmers have the gall to divert swine sludge or toxic chemical wastes into irrigation canals. Where is our sense of responsibility?


One intriguing aspect of irrigation system is that favored rice areas are target for land conversions. Despite land use plan institutionalized by LGU’s, developers transgress them with impunity. DAR should be in the forefront of all these anomalies.


The need to address our food security, poverty, and unemployment in Aklan undoubtedly rest with our massive Aklan River. Natural resource could provide power, irrigation, potable water, tourism and fish conservation. Once water flow is regulated, recurrent flood destructions could be a thing of the past. Evidently, this is included in the plan of Atty. Allen S. Quimpo, Exec. Director of Aklan Rivers Development Council. How long will people wait for this transformation to happen?


Boracay tourism has placed Aklan on the map of fame and glory. Yet, ironically, many people here go to bed hungry each night. Solution to this painful reality is within our reach. By turning our attention to our fresh water resources, Aklan can move forward with courage and strength. At least glimmer of hope is on the horizon. /MP

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