Irrigation facilities benefit Toledo folk

CEBU, Philippines – Over 229 households and farmers from barangays Ilihan, Canlumampao and Camban-ug in Toledo City benefited from the P22.7 million worth of irrigation facilities that was inaugurated during the turnover ceremony in barangay Canlumampao last April 14.

The irrigation system covers a 125-hectare farmland with a main canal system that has also been repaired for flood prevention.

The said project was spearheaded by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the city government of Toledo and the local governments of the three barangay-beneficiaries. Of the P22.7 million total cost, P8.8 million was shouldered by the NIA and the rest was from the funds of the city and the Irrigators’ Association (IA).

Toledo City Mayor Arlene Zambo said during the turnover ceremony that the new facilities can further alleviate the after-effects of the recent global financial crisis. She requested the farmers to continually plant “camote” or sweet potatoes and other crops to show their support to the provincial government’s programs.

“Dapat gyud nato suporta-an ang mga mag-uuma,” Zambo said.

“Kini ang source of agricultural development sa atong dakbayan kay kini ang gisaligan sa atong ekonomiya,” Toledo City vice mayor Rudy Espinosa added.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, who served as the honorable guest during the turnover ceremony, said in her speech that she is very impressed with the accomplishment and the cooperation given by the three agencies to the farmers of Toledo.

“By that simple act, atong napakita nga libo-liboan unya ang makabenepisyo ani nga proyekto...dili gani sa atong henerasyon ra, abot pa ni sa atong mga anak ug sa anak sa atong mga anak,” Garcia said.

She said her administration will continue to help the city’s agricultural programs, adding that the province has already provided inputs for the farmers.

These inputs include bags of organic fertilizer and seedlings of hybrid rice crops to produce better quality yields. The Provincial Agriculturist Office is also working for a farmer field school to continually aid the farmers.

For his part, IA president Yulalio Alipuyo said they had long been waiting for an irrigation system like those that they had received because for almost 12 years already, the irrigation facilities in their place had never been fully restored.

NIA regional officer Modesto Membrevi requested the city and the beneficiaries to take care of the project for it to last longer. The facilities are designed to last for 50 to 100 years. —Sarah Jane A. Nengasca/WAB (THE FREEMAN)