Public hearing to regulate Aklan irrigation systems

BY BOY RYAN B. ZABAL

A public hearing is set by Aklan Sangguniang Panlalawigan on August 7 to regulate the use and maintenance of irrigation systems in the province of Aklan.

Emmanuel Soviet Russia Dela Cruz, committee chairman on agriculture, said the ordinance will serve as the basis for irrigators association who are helping the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in apprehending violators and in maintaining the canals. 

The ordinance prohibits the dumping of chemicals into the canals, illegal diversion of water, throwing of garbage on irrigation canals, destroying the irrigation dikes and canals and making fishponds along irrigation canals of the existing service areas of NIA.

“Bawae magtanum it big trees sa kilid it irrigation canals, pagpatindog it houses sa ibabaw it irrigation canals. The main intent is to avoid the obstruction sa pag flow it water sa atung irrigasyon,” he added.

Meanwhile, Dela Cruz lamented the much-delayed construction of P500-million Aklan dam in Sigcay, Banga, Aklan which is designed to increase the number of irrigated hectares. 

NIA, at present, has no available budget allocations for the repair of damaged lateral canals and the dam in Ibajay, he added.

The old, unreliable and worn-out backhoe and bulldozer of NIA are also awaiting parts and unserviceable for many years.

Dela Cruz said the provincial government of Aklan on July 20 dispatched a backhoe to assist NIA in removing large volume of sand deposits in the mouth of irrigation intake in Sigcay, Banga, Aklan. 

NIA should also seek for the immediate release of funds for the construction of irrigation canals ahead of the government’s project at Kalibo International Airport. 

“NIA continues to have no tangible and substantial solutions to these concerns. Aklan, despite its success in the tourism industry is still an agricultural province with palay as its number one crop.  The provincial government of Aklan cannot do it alone and personally I do not know what to do given the enormous problem and the apparent lack of support from the national government,” Dela Cruz in a privilege speech.