STA. BARBARA – The experimental management transfer of a portion of the Agno River Irrigation System to the irrigation users themselves was like a fresh shot in the arm for farmers who need to maximize the potential of their farmlands.

The turnover was covered by a tripartite agreement signed by Gov. Victor Agbayani in behalf of the provincial government, National Irrigation Administration Regional Director John Celeste, and Helen Valenzuela, president of the Urdaneta-Villasis Irrigators Association.

Turned over to the irrigators association was a portion of ARIS that was rehabilitated by the provincial government when NIA had no money to rehabilitate the same.

NIA owns the irrigation but with the tripartite agreement, about 50 per cent of the water service fees collected will be returned to the farmers’ organization to enable them to maintain and repair the system.

Gov. Agbayani said the provincial government invested P7 – P8 million for the repair of the irrigation system particularly for the dredging and rehabilitation of canals.

The rehabilitated project can irrigate 1,000 hectares of land in Urdaneta and Villasis, enabling farmers there to plant from two to three cropping each year.

Provincial Agriculturist Jose Almendares said the tripartite agreement was hailed by farmers since it would give them an opportunity to run and manage their own irrigation system with minimum of support from the provincial government and NIA.

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