MAYOYAO, IFUGAO – – The Poblacion Barangay Council in Mayoyao is moving forward with its plan to seek the all-out support and assistance of President Duterte for the repair works project of an all-important communal irrigation system (CIS) in the village as part of the barangay government’s effort to boost the agriculture industry here.
Poblacion barangay council officials met recently with Vice Mayor Jimmy Padchanan to discuss the rehabilitation of the said facility initially estimated to cost at Php 20 million.
The dilapidated and idle CIS was constructed in the late 1960s.
Punong Barangay Ben Bullan Jr. and council members are expected to pass a resolution urging the intercession of the Chief Executive on the matter of resolving the longstanding problem of villagers’ inability to make use of the CSI. For now, villagers are merely utilizing a smaller CSI at another section of the upland village.
With a vibrant mixed population of tillers, traders and professionals, barangay Poblacion has enough land for high-cash crops. But most of these farm lots are unirrigated.
To the economically active population of barangay Poblacion, the CIS is obviously so important. It is directly tied-up to the town’s agriculture expansion plan. A responsive government intervention scheme, such as immediately rebuilding damaged CIS as this one, can multiply the incomes of farmers.
The project will cover the key parts or sections of the damaged CIS and its relevant structures.
It is seen to provide year-round irrigation water delivery to vast hectares of irrigable area and rehabilitation as well of more extensive hectares covered by five other adjoining villages. Other existing irrigation systems in the other 21 villages are mostly antiquated and in poor conditions.
The five villages surrounding or nestling next to barangay Poblacion are among the most fertile areas of Mayoyao. Relatively fertile brown-earth soils are found here. There is also the red-earth variety, high in iron content and low in humus. Significant sections of these six villages are suitable for farming.
The project will benefit 3,000 farmers and contribute to the government’s goal of achieving rice self-sufficiency.
Construction work is expected to generate new jobs. A rehabilitated CIS shall save farmers’ money intended for irrigation and has an impact on increasing proportionally the crop’s yield.
The long-sought CIS is expected to be reconstructed according to better designs and specifications.
Once you get in the area of the long neglected, badly-damaged and despicable CIS, easily described as “an essential tool of farmers in their daily arduous lives,” the resolve to address the problem is jacked up by not a few notches. Exactly what is the feeling? You feel the pulse and instinct to act and move swiftly and decisively on the problem in the best interest of the impoverished folks. It certainly drives the adrenalin up in the sky! People were all bewildered that this CIS is such in a miserable to state to operate at, whether you’re from here or not.
While the government is focusing heavily in importing rice from Vietnam, Thailand and even China to stamp out quickly the rice shortage in the country, it is not investing significantly on facilities as this one for the agriculture sector.
By fast-tracking efforts in rehabilitating this CIS the Duterte administration will be able to ensure that the benefit of a refurbished or rehabilitated CIS reaches every household in barangay Poblacion and the five adjacent villages. The strategically located village has 200 households spread in seven puroks. Barangay Poblacion is bounded in the north by barangay Bato-Alat Bang, in the west by barangay Inwaloy, in the east by barangays Chumang and Bongan and in the south by barangays Mayoyao Proper and Mapawoy. Most of Poblacion folks are engaged in agriculture. The principal cash crop is the “Tinawon” rice, which is grown mainly once a year. Vegetables and fruits are the other leading crops. The village is also an important commercial center.
The proposed project seeks to upgrade the conditions of hardworking but lowly-earning tillers and their beneficiaries for so many years.
The biggest problem and challenge of this village is really poverty and underdevelopment. It’s very hard to solve poverty if farmers’ needs are unattended by the government.
Do officials in “Imperial Manila” as well as highly-placed officials in the Department of Agriculture not care for the substantial losses in production of the agriculture sector here because of this damaged CIS?
Vice Mayor Padchanan praised the village’s farmers for unceasingly backing the government’s long-term vision of enhancing food security. In turn, he vowed to provide them a better life and their loved ones.
Padchanan is a highly-respected and conscientious public servant who, as presiding officer of the ten-member Sangguniang Bayan, initiated a number of pro-poor measures and was responsible for important legislations on agriculture, culture, youth and education.
Along with Mayor Lumayna, Mr. Padchanan is steadfastly pursuing poverty reduction programs.
It is critical that the Duterte administration recognize the disadvantages of having a damaged CIS. For one, it reduces dramatically the incomes of farmers. The same holds true for the nutritional value of crops raised in the fields. It also affects the quality of farm produce, a good number of them are said to be high-value ones.
The municipal government, through Mayor Ronie Lumayna, had been duly informed of this and it was supportive of this endeavor.
“The communal irrigation systems are the backbone of the agriculture sector and this proposed project should be prioritized by President Duterte,” Padchanan said.
Vice Mayor Padchanan was also extremely grateful to the concern for the plight of farmers in this village and contributions of former Board Member Samson Atluna for serving dutifully and faithfully well, more than what they sought for from him. Atluna authored the “Organic Farming Code of Ifugao.” He was elected board member for three terms from 2008 to 2016. Mayoyao currently enjoys the distinction as the “organic farming center of Ifugao.” Atluna hails from barangay Balangbang in Mayoyao. And so, in the first place, there’s so much to be thankful for him.
Will the project build on or strengthen the people’s aspirations for a better tomorrow? Obviously, the answer is in the affirmative.
This view enable policymakers, planners and lawmakers here to understand the past, assist in predicting the future and help soil tillers raise their crops abundantly in today’s fertile farm lands.
The village agriculture posted a slow growth rate due to this nagging problem.
Over the years, a sustained average growth rate of three percent in the agriculture industry in distant villages of Ifugao as this one has not been achieved. The economy tends to underperform due to perennial issues related to poor infrastructure in the farming sector. Requests of farmer organizations for construction of farm-to-market roads, access roads and road opening works have elicited little or no support at all from the provincial government. A sizeable number of Ifugao folks have said they are hopeful that incoming officials by 2019 shall seriously work to resolve these issues.
For his part, Punong Barangay Bullan suggested priority programs are pushed for the agriculture industry to upgrade the conditions of the people in poor provinces like Ifugao.
“We are committed to uplifting the lives of our people through the development of projects in our barangay,” Bullan told the ZigZag Weekly.
“Unfortunately, our resources are not enough,” he added. Poblacion barangay council’s annual budget is nearly Php 1.7 million this year.
Bullan emphasized that as the barangay council strives to do its share in nation-building by helping keep about 1,400 people out of poverty, the municipal government is ready to upgrade the conditions of his constituents. The barangay council is also composed of Kagawads (councilmen) Jubilet Banugan, Linda Chawana, Mary Choy-awon, Rene Ellitan, Warren Lubbong, Leandro Nalliw and Fairybell Ngayaan. Barangay secretary is Genevieu Fukasan. Barangay treasurer is Devie Abbugao. Sangguniang Kabataan chairman is Deacer Bungayon.
In an exclusive interview with the ZigZag Weekly, Vice Mayor Padchanan noted that enhanced measures such as construction of farm-to-market roads, communal irrigation systems and post-harvest facilities are needed to help cash-strapped farmers.
“These important facilities and structures will significantly help us achieve inclusive growth in the rural areas,” he stressed. Mayoyao is a fourth-class municipality.
The money spent by the national government, culled from taxpayers nationwide, is considered by well-meaning Filipinos as a key component of spurring growth and development in depressed villages.
A well-built CIS, through the intercession of President Duterte, is expected to alter the landscape of several underserved villages in Mayoyao as it is also viewed as a linkage critical to the town’s overall development goals.
With a rehabilitated and subsequently recommissioned CSI, young villagers look forward to take over chores of planting and harvesting palay (unhusked rice) or even entertain the thought of obtaining a degree in agriculture in college, possibly at Ifugao State University (IFSU), in the future.
If realized, the rehabilitated CIS shall serve as a testimony of the commitment of the barangay, municipal and national government to sustainable development. It is poised to become another landmark project of President Duterte that every Mayoyao resident can be proud of.
“This is one way of recognizing the hard work, sacrifices and services of our farmers in ensuring that there is food at the table three times a day,” an Assumption Academy teacher was quoted as saying in another interview. The Catholic Church-run high school is centrally situated in the village. Many other professionals and countless other villagers are optimistic that the barangay council’s request to the Palace would be acted upon favorably.
It is now imperative for President Duterte to take on the role of a game changer, by infusing the much-needed funds for this project as it will enhance infrastructure development and be instrumental in reducing poverty and promoting inclusive growth and a sustainable future.
The sacrifice of sun-baked farmers in feeding the nation should be recognized and appreciated. **By Anthony A. Araos
