Guv wants irrigation service fees subsidized
LINGAYEN— The national government should help ease the burden of the farmers by subsidizing the irrigation fees being imposed on farmers.
Governor Amado Espino Jr. made the call during the Pangasinan 2nd General Assembly of the Small Water Irrigation System Association (SWISA) last November 25, 2015 held at the Sison Auditorium.
Mr. Espino said the onset of the El Nino phenomenon is the biggest problem of the agriculture sector, and only an efficient irrigation system can mitigate the farmer’s plight which was why he supports the call of lawmakers and farmers’ groups in the country.
“The government should abolish the irrigation service fees (ISF), “ Mr. Espino said even as he pledged the provincial government’s support to the farmers by providing 183 shallow tube wells initially and repair 32 small water impounding systems in different areas in the province is now undergoing bidding process.
The ISF is meant to cover the costs of operation of dams, pumps, gates and drainage ditches, the maintenance of service and access roads, and the repairs of minor damages caused by natural calamities.
An average of P4,500 or 5 cavans of palay per hectare, per year are being charged to farmers, the militant farmers’ organization Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas said in a report.
The governor added that P100 million is allocated for the agriculture sector next year for the procurement of over 1,000 water pumps and farm inputs to be distributed to the farmers’ groups encouraged the members of the 92 SWISAs of the different towns to maximize the use of modern techniques and technologies available.
Samuel Sardeña, president of SWISA Pangasinan, presided over their assembly meeting attended by some 800 members of the SWISA Pangasinan. (Johanne R. Macob)
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