IRRIGATION IN DAVAO DEL NORTE, STRENGTHENED

IRRIGATION IN DAVAO DEL NORTE, STRENGTHENED

A better, sustainable harvest for our agiculture sector is needed to support much of the local food requirement of the country. This is true especially in major food baskets of the country such as in Mindanao. Certainly, a good Irrigation and drainage system constitute as one of the foremost requirement for a much better yield especially for the local rice production and even export-grade bananas, where water requirement is high.

In the province of Davao del Norte, 2nd District Representative Anton F. Lagdameo, Jr., as part of his Barangayanihan Program in support to President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Food Security Program, recently poured in 30 Million Pesos from his country-wide development fund purposely to stengthen various irrigation projects. This project is implemented thru the local Irrigation Administration Office located in Carmen town headed by Engr. Alejandro L. Alberca-Irrigation Superintendent II.

Specifically, the project is focused on rehabilitating irrigation systems under the Lasang-Kipaliku-Liboganon River Systems which traverses through most of the low-lying irrigable lands of the towns of Carmen, Sto.Tomas and Braulio E. Dujali and which also functions as the major rice producer of the province if not region wise.

The project along with the 2 mini-backhoes regularly being lent by the Office of Cong. Anton to the barangays especially in Carmen where flooding is a frequent problem because of its topographical location, helped a lot in minimizing inundations of rivers and canals as well as reducing malaria/dengue cases in the locality.

Dr. Dominic Basalo, the Municipal Health Officer of Carmen, acknowledged the help given by Cong. Lagdameo on matters of drainage and irrigation system since diseases such as schistosomiases and dengue or even malaria can well thrive on murky waters where drainage is low.

The problem on flooding however, is an age-old predicament affecting not just the Province of Davao del Norte but also even the most urbanized cities of Davao and Metro Manila. It is complex and requires all stakeholders and developers for a united action. Factors such as denudation of forest, erotion and irresponsible waste disposal do much in this scenario. It is worthwhile to note however, the efforts of good leaders, intuitive and undaunted as they are, for other leaders and civic groups to follow.