MANILA – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) assured Tuesday that the water level of Angat Dam should be enough to supply farmlands throughout the dry cropping season.
There has been a seven-meter decrease since early January 2022, with 195.85 meters recorded as of Tuesday.
The normal high level is 212 meters while the critical level starts at at 160 meters.
“We are already nearing the harvest period so each month onwards, the farmlands will not require very much water,” said C’zar Sulaik, Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations of NIA, during Tuesday’s press briefer.
Sulaik said they have already discussed with the National Water Resources Board, Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, and water concessionaires, Manila Water and Maynilad Water, the other mitigation solutions for the dry season, which usually lasts until June.
“Farmers in Bulacan and Pampanga have already received high quality shallow tube well pumps to help them tap other water sources during the dry season,” he said.
Angat Dam in Norzagaray, Bulacan is the primary source of drinking water for Metro Manila households. It also supplies nearby provinces.
Sulaik said NIA has not demanded an increase in payment from farmers for its irrigation services for a long time now.
Republic Act 10969, or the Irrigation Service Act signed in 2018, states that farmers with landholdings of eight hectares or less are exempted from paying the irrigation service fee (ISF) for water derived from national and communal irrigation systems constructed and administered by NIA and other government agencies.
Farmers with landholdings of above eight hectares shall continue to pay the equivalent ISF, including corporate farms, plantations, fish ponds, and other persons who use irrigation water and facilities for non-agricultural purposes like drainage.
For the farmers to be exempted, they shall be listed in the Registry of Farmers, established and monitored by NIA.
Those not listed may request NIA to include their names upon presentation of proof. (PNA)
SOURCE: https://www.pna.gov.ph
