PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has tasked the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to put up irrigation systems to cover several municipalities in Occidental, Mindoro, particularly the towns of San Jose and Magsaysay to boost agricultural production.
Speaking during the distribution of various government assistance in Occidental Mindoro, President Marcos acknowledged the impact of El Niño phenomenon in the agriculture sector of the province, affecting the livelihood of the farmers.
“Kaya’t nandito, kasama rin natin— hindi umakyat sa stage, nandiyan si— ang National Irrigation— ayan, si Eddie Guillen, taga amin po ito pero siya’y nailagay natin sa irrigation at marami po tayong plano,” President Marcos said in his speech at the San Jose Municipal Gym.
“Mayroon po tayong pinaplano na dam na ilalagay para ma-koberan (cover) hanggang San Jose, Magsaysay, at mapatubigan na. Para naman kahit na mahina ang ulan ay mayroon pa tayong makukuhanan ng tubig,” he pointed out.
Aside from irrigation water from dams, Marcos said the government will also provide the farmers solar-powered pumps to irrigate hard-to-reach upland areas.
Highlighting the importance of irrigation system to agricultural production, Marcos said even with complete provision of fertilizer, pesticides, farm equipment, and other inputs, optimum output can’t be achieved without sufficient water supply.
“Kaya’t ‘yun ay babaguhin natin. Dahil alam naman po natin sa ating mga magsasaka, ang puno’t dulo, lalong-lalo na pagka palay ang pinag-uusapan, ang puno’t dulo nitong lahat ay patubig,” he said.
Among the assistance extended by the Department of Agriculture (DA) during the President’s visit include PhP3,000 fuel subsidy to 393 farmers; PhP5,000 each to 1,153 affected farmers under the Rice Farmers Financial Assistance; PhP5.1 million to 193 farmers under the El Niño Indemnification Fund; and PhP77.5 million Survival and Recovery Aid loans.
The NIA, on the other hand, extended PhP7.38 million worth of operations and maintenance subsidy to two irrigators’ associations (IA) and Certificate of condonation and exemption
worth PhP18.48 million to one association.
NIA also gave 24 units of solar pump irrigation projects worth PhP50 million to three IAs; and three communal irrigation projects worth PhP89.26 million to 3 IAs (one each IA).
The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Technical Education and Skills Development Administration (TESDA) also provided various assistance to Occidental Mindoro beneficiaries.
