Irrigation agency still has P20M uncollected service fee

Wednesday, January 25, 2012

IRRIGATION service fee (ISF) collection efficiency in Eastern Visayas has remained below the 80 percent target, with about P20 million accumulated unpaid accounts as of January, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) reported.

NIA Regional Manager Romeo Quiza said they have been preparing to file more charges against delinquent farmers as one strategy to raise the compliance level.

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“Every year, our target is to collect 80 percent of irrigation fees but our current collection efficiency rate is only 59 percent. We have a hard time achieving high payment rate because of production losses wrought by floods, pest, and diseases,” Quiza said.

In 2011, NIA collected some P23 million members of irrigator’s association. The region has 17 irrigation systems with over 22,000 farmer beneficiaries.

Three years ago, the NIA office in Eastern Visayas recorded a P1.5 billion back fees recorded as early as 1970 when the agency enforced the ISF collection.

“In 2005, our collection efficiency rate was only 38 percent. We sent issuance and demand letters and filed cases against those with large delinquent accounts. That compelled many farmers to pay their dues to avoid facing charges,” he added.

Initially, Quiza said at least 60 cases have been filed in Ormoc City; Abuyog and Tanauan, both in Leyte. Quiza emphasized the need to collect more to sustain future operations of irrigation systems.

The NIA regional chief said they are now exerting all administrative means in the collection, if farmers will not heed their call, they will refer the case to their hired lawyers. Those with big unpaid amount are their priorities.

“There’s a single farmer that owes us P1 million,” Quiza said.

The agency admitted that the low collection of ISF has affected the “financial standing” in the maintenance of the delivery of irrigation services to farmers in the region.

Under Republic Act 3601, such charges are necessary to cover the costs of operation, maintenance, and to recover the cost of construction within a reasonable period of time.

ISF that was not generated in the current year is automatically classified as back accounts in the coming years.

Farm owned by delinquent payers might be confiscated from them through legal process if they can’t pay their ISF account.

NIA is exempting rice farmers from ISF payment if their rice farm has a very low harvest and if damaged by pests. A farmer who experienced loss in rice yield must inform the NIA field offices to avail the exemption.

The region has 59,000 hectares of rice land with developed irrigation system out of the 115,000 hectares of potential area. (Leyte Samar Daily Express)