Road
Constructions Damage Irrigation Projects
Infra development is
a welcome sight if it considers existing economic projects equally important to
human welfare. Vital consideration must be given to agriculture since it is the
basic foundation of our economy. The on-going expansion of the Philippine Nautical
Highway from Kalibo to Caticlan, Malay from a 2-lane highway to 4 invariably
gobbles up concrete fences, houses, aging trees, waiting sheds and parking
lots. Here, there is nothing we could do since the objective of the DPWH is to
provide wholesome and desirable standard for securing the well being of
motorists, the riding public and the pedestrians.
However, irrigation
projects must not be sacrificed in the name of aesthetic and modern road
infrastructure. Road contractors and engineers must conserve those main and
lateral canals or structure of irrigation system that traverse or located
alongside existing highways. It has been observed that where there are
continuous irrigation flow from the source (gravity or pump) to the rice
fields, the irrigation canal is methodically destroyed and never restored.
This is happening in
gravity irrigation dam of Calimbajan, Makato where 15 hectares of rice land are
covered. In Tangalan, two communal irrigation projects that used pumps to
irrigate 61 hectares can no longer have irrigation services.
For the past 45
years, barangays Calimbajan, and Poblacion Makato, and Poblacion and Tagas,
Tangalan have two rice cropping seasons with average yield of 3.9 metric tons
per hectare per harvest. To facilitate irrigation water flew, farmers simply
utilize the highway drainage canal and is very satisfactory. However, this
abruptly ended when the highway was expanded early this year. As a result, not
a single drop came from the farm ditches. Land preparation and transplanting of
rice seedlings were delayed for two months. The paddy fields waited for gentle
rain from heaven to drop.
In Bagto, Lezo where
the lateral canal of NIA traverses the Kalibo Circumferential road, some 20
hectares of prime irrigated land were reverted to rain fed areas. Fortunately,
NIA repaired the damaged main canal in Bigaa, Malinao where 667 hectares of
rice lands in Lezo, Numancia, and Makato were previously affected.
A similar incident
occurred at the extended runway of KIA where a main canal of NIA has been
blocked by 300 meters of concrete. Engr. Rizalo Conception, former manager -
Capiz-Aklan NIA said that a culvert structure could not be installed since
there is no way of regular cleaning/maintenance considering its length and the
danger of passing aircrafts.
Where there is
wanton or deliberate disruption of irrigation services by DPWH, CAAP or its
contractors, concerned Irrigators’ Associations must air their legitimate
protests to Municipal Mayors for immediate appropriate action. Otherwise our small
farmers could be marginalized and griped by poverty, which will also affect the
consumers.
Aware of the problem
faced by farmers, Calimbajan Brgy. Capt. Renilo T. Tubal submitted a Resolution
urging NIA to construct a dam at Calimbajan-Pudiot boundary designed to
irrigate 50-60 hectares of rice land and increase productivity. Fortunately,
P600, 000 is initially released out of the total P2 million budget.
The loss of our
irrigated rice lands due to tourism infra development (Kalibo Cercumferential
Road, Nautical Highway and KIA) and the relentless illegal land conversions can
have significant impact on rice self sufficiency. With an estimated 535,000
population of Aklan and the estimated 1.7 million visitors this year, our
capacity to provide food can be jeopardized. SP member Soviet Russia A. de la Cruz during a public hearing on August 7, 2015 averred that
our surplus palay production is only 114,000 metric tons in 2014 while the
average yearly decline over a 5 year period is 6,461 metric tons.
The protracted eight
months El Nino phenomenon that will hit Aklan starting October this year will
further exacerbate food and water supply. Sen. Chiz Escudero urged TESDA and
DSWD to provide alternative jobs to farmers and mitigate impact of possible
longest drought in Philippine history. We must act now before it’s too
late. /MP
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