by Oliver T. Baccay

CAUAYAN CITY, October 21 (PIA) -- The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) region 2 has reported a total of 234 irrigation systems and communal irrigation facilities which were destroyed during the series of typhoons “Mina”, “Pedring” and “Quiel” that have hit the region lately.

Administrator Engr. Vicente Galvez said in the damage assessment they conducted after the typhoons, 12 national irrigation facilities and 12 communal systems in the province of Cagayan have incurred damages. In Isabela, three irrigation facilities and 42 communal systems; Quirino, one main facility and 18 communal systems and in Nueva Vizcaya, one facility and 144 communal irrigation systems were also damaged.

Galvez said they need 303.8 million pesos to rehabilitate the said damages. He also stated that some of the destroyed facilities need an immediate restoration to give continuous service to the farmers, especially that the farmers are about to plant again for the next cropping season.

“In our assessment a total of 32, 508 farmers in the 36, 817 hectares of ricefields will be affected by the said destruction of irrigation facilities,” Galvez said.

In his response, agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala said the NIA should submit a prioritization plan as which among the damaged infrastructure facilities need an urgent rehabilitation to lobby to the officials to finance the project.

“It is better if you also submit a plan with priorities because it is impossible for us to respond to all of the damaged irrigation infrastructures. It is easy to lobby a project with prioritization plan,” Alcala said.

Alcala also urged the local officials in the respective areas to help in restoring the damaged facilities because the government is encouraging partnership in helping the farmers which will eventually help uplift the economy of the country. (TCB/OTB/PIA-2)