CALAPAN CITY, Oriental Mindoro (PIA) -- Farmers belonging to the Purnaga Magsaysay Irrigators Association remain optimistic that they will eventually recover from the challenges caused by the El Niño phenomenon. 

The association oversees a total agricultural land area of 186.7 hectares, with approximately 50 hectares dedicated to rice cultivation, while the remainder is utilized for various crops, particularly onions.

Danilo Dacara, president of the association, shared the challenges he faced due to El Niño.

“Sa kasalukuyan po kami ay lubhang apektado ng El Niño kaya naman humingi kami ng tulong sa tanggapan ng National Irrigation Administration at agarang nagkaloob po ng tulong sa munisipyo ng Magsaysay. Dumadaloy na yung tubig mula sa dam na  pagkukunan ng tubig ng ating mga farmers sa kanilang palayan sapagkat wala na po talagang mapagkukunan ng tubig,” he said.

[Currently, we are greatly affected by El Niño, which is why we asked for help from the National Irrigation Administration and they immediately provided help through the municipality of Magsaysay. The water is already flowing from the dam that is the source of water for our farmers in their rice fields because there is really no source of water.]

In an effort to address irrigation needs and supplement the water supply, the irrigators association coordinated the utilization of reserved water from the Magtangkob River. This involved a strategic rechanneling of the water to the primary source of the Caguray Dam. 

To facilitate this initiative, the National Irrigation Administration of Occidental Mindoro collaborated with the local government of Magsaysay to provide the necessary equipment for their operation.

The NIA also offered to provide fuel to ensure the efficient operation of the equipment at the main source of the Caguray River Irrigation System. 

Consequently, this concerted effort led to the impounding of additional water in the main canal of the system. Farmers, particularly those cultivating rice, were able to extract water using water pumps to fulfill the irrigation requirements of almost 50 hectares of rice fields. 

Dacara also expressed his gratitude for the assistance given by the NIA to their association. 

“Nagpapasalamat po kami sa NIA sa suportang ibinigay niyo sa amin,” he said.

[We thank NIA for the support you have given us.]

Despite the challenging circumstances, these collaborative measures have brought a ray of hope to the farmers in their pursuit of crop recovery. (GATS/PIA MIMAROPA)