Home | To bottom

Abra irrigation woes remain

BANGUED, Abra (Sept. 1) — After a half day consultation on August 19, with Tayum Mayor Rogelio Elveña and Vice-Mayor Reynaldo Alagao, the problems surrounding un-irrigated rice fields of Bangued and Tayum farmers belonging to the Organisasyon Dagiti Nakurapaya nga Umili kadagiti Sitios (ORNUS) are still left unanswered. The local government officials expected the said consultation to result in the signing of a commitment letter but the peasant leaders decided not to sign.

The peasant group headed by ORNUS chairman Isidro Bites, gathered in Tayum to let their officials know how the administration of the Abra River Irrigation Association (ARIA) inflicted some wrong to their livelihood. They also wanted Tayum officials to act on the problem concerning the irrigation system that has stopped operating since the start of the second cropping season last year.

Albert Teredaño, ORNUS spokesperson discussed the violations the ARIA administration committed, which contradict the constitution and by-laws. An interaction between the public officials and the peasants group ensued.

After the presentation, Alagao showed a ready-made commitment letter saying that this is the solution to their problems.

The peasants tried to study the contents of the commitment letter, but after some 20 minutes, they decided to delay the signing and instead asked that they consulted with other farmers its content. According to the group leaders, the letter may not be favorable to the farmers in the end that it is planning to propose some amendments.

The ARIA failed to maintain the irrigation system that most of its members stopped paying the required fees. This resulted in the member-beneficiaries’ loss of confidence and trust in the ARIA which peaked in a series of mass actions, including a picket at the ARIA offices last month. # Jolly Ann Bigornia for NORDIS

Home | Back to top