Third cropping to redeem losses from typhoons, says NIA chief

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, Oct. 16 (PNA) -- National Irrigation Administration (NIA) chief Antonio Nangel has ordered officials of the Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-UPRIIS) to reach out local officials and agency technicians to validate the damage reports “at the soonest time possible.”

This as he expressed belief the losses in production caused by the twin typhoons “Pedring” and “Quiel” can be recovered through the so-called quick turnaround or planting immediately after harvesting.

Nangel said that dams, especially Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija, have enough water to sustain an immediate third cropping.

“Third cropping is our ready solution,” said Nangel, who also pioneered ratooning system during his stint as operations manager of NIA-UPRIIS which operates the giant Pantabangan Dam.

“Of course, we support that because we have the interests of the farmers in mind,” Nangel said.

“I have told them to coordinate with the various local government units (LGUs) in Nueva Ecija and with technicians of the Department of Agriculture so we could validate the damage reports at the soonest possible time,” he added.

Earlier, Vice Governor Jose Gay Padiernos and the Sangguniang Panlalawigan passed a resolution asking NIA to exempt farmers affected by typhoons Pedring and Quiel from paying irrigation service fees which is pegged at two and a half cavans (125 kilos) of palay during rainy season and three and a half (175 kilos) during wet season.

The move was readily supported by Governor Aurelio Umali ang the League of Municipalities-Nueva Ecija chapter (LMP-NE) led by Penaranda Mayor Ferdinand Abesamis.

Padiernos their resolution carries a mere request which “may be granted if possible.”

UPRIIS services 88,000 farmers, of whom 62,046 paid a total of P232.4 million as of October 7.

Last year, farmers paid P203.4 million in irrigation service fees. (PNA)