KALIBO, Aklan – Farmer-irrigators in Aklan want to declare five towns under a state of calamity following the temporary closure of irrigation canals on Oct. 21.
The affected towns were Banga, Kalibo, New Washington, Lezo, and Makato.
The System Management Committee, composed of the Federation of Irrigators Association, Inc. and local government units, asked the provincial government of Aklan, through the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, on Dec. 17 to act on the matter.
The committee was organized by the National Irrigation Administration, which oversees the maintenance and operation of the Aklan River Irrigation System.
The drought brought about by the El Niño phenomenon is a problem, with areas for rice production not irrigated and thus not ready for planting, the irrigators claimed.
Affected barangays are willing to allocate emergency funds to help the farmers, according to Provincial Board member Emmanuel Soviet Russia Dela Cruz, chairman of the committee on agriculture.
“Eighty percent of rice production depends on the steady supply of irrigation water, and the total cut-off of irrigation canals and the long dry spell had greatly affected hectares of land for rice planting,” he added.
The provincial government plans to tap the services of local drillers for the manual drilling of shallow tube wells and to procure diesel-fired water pumps, fertilizers and seeds for the farmers.
Aklan governor Florencio Miraflores had already endorsed the declaration of a state of calamity in the five municipalities to provide immediate assistance to the most affected farmers.
As soon as the Sangguniang Panlalawigan approves the governor’s endorsement, the province can use 20 percent of its calamity fund and 30 percent of its quick response fund to mitigate the widespread effects of the closure of irrigation canals. (With Aklan Forum Journal/PN)
