Restoration of Banaue Rice Terraces continues

CONTINOUS RESTORATION. The ongoing rehabilitation and restoration of the stone-walled Banaue Rice Terraces continue as part of the corporate social responsibility program of a private firm. (Milo Brioso)
CONTINOUS RESTORATION. The ongoing rehabilitation and restoration of the stone-walled Banaue Rice Terraces continue as part of the corporate social responsibility program of a private firm. (Milo Brioso)

REHABILITATION of the abandoned stone-walled rice terraces in Banaue, Ifugao will push through.

As part of the Universal Harvest Inc. (UHI) corporate social responsibility program, Milagros Ong-How has pledged a P3-million fund intended for the restoration of the rice terraces starting in Barangay Viewpoint.

“As of now, we have cleared and rehabilitated 20 and planted 8 hectares with the fund,” said Mayor Jerry Dalipog.

“Out of the 1,607 hectares, 540 hectares were abandoned in 2015,” added Dalipog. Restoration of these 540 hectares is targeted to be completed in two years.

In 2016, the restoration started with a tour by local government officials in different countries such as Indonesia, Japan and China rice terraces to see how other countries preserve their rice terraces.

Dalipog added the municipality is expecting another P3 million from the same sponsor for the continuation of the rehabilitation program.

The Terraces Restoration Initiative United Movement for the Preservation of the Heritage (TRIUMPH), which handles the “chawa” program, is a 40-man team from both the LGU and farmers tasked to clean, level, tile and plant in the abandoned fields.

The chawa, which started previously as local government unit program, refers to the practice of 50-50 percent sharing between the LGU and the owner of the abandoned fields.

With the restoration of terraces, Dalipog said the harvest of the terraces will be sold and used for the next operation to sustain the rehabilitation of the abandoned terraces.

Aside from the P3-million budget, the mayor said P200 million has already been allocated under in the General Appropriations Act of 2018 for the restoration of the terraces.

At least P60 million was channeled through the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (Tieza) for the rehabilitation of two rice terraces in Batad and Bangaan.

Another P109 million has been set aside for the Department of Public Works and Highways for the stonewalling of the eroded terraces in the different remaining barangays, while P14.4 million is set aside for irrigation by the Department of Agriculture and P11 million for the development of trails.

Dalipog manifested their submission of the requirements to Tieza for finalization and bidding of the project.

The 2,000-year-old terraces of Banaue, also known as the “Eighth Wonder of the World,” was declared as one of the Unesco world heritage site in 1995.

In 2012, a volunteer activity was also made to restore the rice terraces because of the damage caused by typhoons.

Most volunteers from Manila, referred to as “weekend warriors”, traveled to Banaue. Residents of other towns later offered help as the movement expanded.

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