PILA, Laguna (PIA) – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Calabarzon regional office supports the whole-of-government approach in mitigating the effects of El Niño in the region.
During the Sulong Calabarzon program of the Philippine Information Agency, senior engineer Precious Leirae Palacol of the NIA Calabarzon Operations Unit said that the agency is proactive in fulfilling its mandate in providing and establishing a working and efficient irrigation system that will help Filipino farmers increase their harvest and productivity, even during the dry season.
Palacol stated that the agency adheres for the call of a whole-of-government approach by President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to prepare and address the effects of El Niño in various parts of the country, including the Calabarzon region.
Under this initiative, national government agencies such as the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), along with other frontline government agencies are working together to prepare and provide interventions for agricultural and fisheries sectors.
The irrigation administration has its own El Niño Action Plan, which contains different innovation measures for cultivating crops that include a water delivery schedule, utilization of Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) Technology, diversification of crops, and the use of drought-resistant crop varieties to help Filipino farmers.
In Calabarzon, the agency has identified a total of 3,322 hectares as vulnerable areas in the region susceptible to the impacts of El Niño, including the provinces of Cavite and Batangas.
“NIA Calabarzon has identified a total of 3,322 hectares as vulnerable areas covering the entire Calabarzon region, which consists of various provinces in Region IV-A. Currently, our field offices are continuously monitoring our irrigation systems and we are maintaining communication with our farmers to assess the status of their farmlands,” Palacol said.
She added that as soon as PAGASA announced the onset of El Niño, registered Irrigators Associations (IA’s) in the region were immediately notified by their field officers and urged to adopt diversified cropping practices, as rice cultivation demands more water supply during this period.
“There are several farmers coming to our field offices to convey their concerns about the drought they are experiencing, like in Nasugbu and Lian, Batangas, which have been affected by the dry spell. NIA immediately responded by cleaning our irrigation canals and drainage systems,” Palacol explained.
For its part, NIA regularly conducts desilting activities in irrigation systems’ main canals to remove accumulated trash and mud within the system, which has affected the source of water on farmlands.
The agency calls on the residents near irrigation systems to do their part by responsibly discarding trash away from irrigation canals or drainages to prevent any obstruction and ensure a proper flow of water.
Amidst the imminent challenges brought by El Niño, Palacol said that the agency continuously coordinates with farmers and counterpart agencies to contribute to the aspiration of the administration to attain food security nationwide. (CO/PIA-4A)
Sulong Calabarzon is a weekly public affairs program hosted by the Philippine Information Agency Calabarzon, streaming live every Thursday, 2:00 PM via the Philippine Information Agency Calabarzon Facebook page.
