Tuesday, April 08, 2008 Farmers’ organization criticizes government over high irrigation fees
THE Farmers Development Center Inc. (Fardec) criticized the government for collecting high irrigation fees, which adds to the burden of poverty-stricken rice farmers in Bohol and other areas of the country.
Fardec executive director Estrella Catarata said that charging the poor farmers P1,800 per hectare of rice land is too much, especially that it is the duty of the government, through the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), to help farmers irrigate their rice paddies.
Antonio Boniel, chairperson of Nagkahiusang Ubayanong Mag-uuma (Nauna), said that even if the planting season falls within the rainy days, NIA still collects P1,800 per hectare.
“Tabla rag gipabayran nila ang tubig-uwan nga hinatag sa Ginoo (It’s just like they’re making us pay for the rain),” Boniel said.
Boniel said that for several times, they wanted to hold a dialogue with Bohol Gov. Erico Aumentado but the official reportedly ignored them. Aumentado hails from Ubay.
Primitibo Olaybar, chairperson of Panaghiusa sa Mag-uuma sa Bohol (Pamtiambo), said that because of irrigation fees, farmers failed to send their children to school.
“Kanang irrigation sa gobierno and nakaalkanse sa mga farmers (In government irrigation, farmers are at the losing end),” Olaybar said.
Meanwhile, the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP-Cebu) and Panaghiusa sa Mangingisda sa Sugbo (Pamana-Sugbo) will hold a rally at the Department of Agriculture (DA) 7 tomorrow to protest the government’s alleged failure to help the rice farmers.
KMP-Cebu chairperson Nicolas Abasolo said the government must strengthen the National Food Authority (NFA) to break the cartel of unscrupulous traders.
Abasolo said the fisherfolk will join the rally on the rice issue because they too are affected with the rice shortage.
“Although the government has much money, there is no support for the farmers because funds intended for agriculture went to the pockets of corrupt officials,” Abasolo said.
He cited as example the fertilizer scam where former DA undersecretary Jocelyn “Joc-Joc” Bolante was accused of absconding with P750 million in government funds.
Abasolo said that while President Arroyo denied that there is rice shortage, “the best proof that she is telling a lie is the continued importation of rice by NFA.”
Abasolo also said that KMP-Cebu supports the complaint of the Bohol farmers against huge irrigation fees.
He said that the Buyongan Dam in Ubay, Bohol was constructed at the cost of P2 billion but still unfinished and NIA Bohol officials want P1.2 billion additional funds to complete the project.
“Aumentado cannot ignore the grievances of the affected farmers because all the irrigation transactions passed through him,” Abasolo said.
