Senator Rodolfo Biazon, who visited Umingan town on May 2, said he is initiating a Senate inquiry on the delay of the construction of the irrigation component of the San Roque Multi-Purpose Dam.

“I’m going to ask irrigators why San Roque Dam has not delivered the irrigation component,” Biazon said.

The irrigation component, he said, is a crucial factor in seeking to increase rice production in the province by providing water to 83,000 hectares of farmlands.

“Just imagine how much it (the irrigation) can add if indeed our production of rice is averaging four metric tons per hectare of in-bred rice,” Biazon said, adding “We need to this irrigation project.”

Earlier, Governor Amado Espino Jr. said he will make an official inquiry about the reported cancellation of funding of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) for the irrigation dam component of the 245- megawatt San Roque Multi-Purpose Dam located in San Manuel town.

The irrigation component, estimated to cost about P2.5 billion, was originally scheduled for completion five years ago.

Espino said the JBIC’s withdrawal of the funding could not have been solely a result of strong lobbying by militant farmers’ following the killing two years ago of peasant leader Jose Doton.

FARMERS’ WOES

Farmers have pointed to lack of irrigation as one of the major obstacles to their being productive.

Elpidio Bato, a farmer from Bayambang said “tubig ang pinakaproblema” since they spend so much on fuel to bring water into the un-irrigated areas.

Other problems being raised by farmers are expensive agricultural inputs such as pesticide, herbicide and fertilizer and the low price of the palay.

Meanwhile, Edgareo Tugas, municipal agriculturist of Alcala town, said there are local efforts to help the plight of farmers, i.e., teaching farmers on the use of organic and liquid fertilizer, a cheaper and more effective alternative to commercial brands. – with a report from Glaiza Pinto, UPB

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