The Department of Agriculture vowed to lend water pumps to farmers affected by drought like phenomenon. Farmers from San Miguel town look at a patch of water on a dried up small farm reservoir. PHOTO BY DINO BALABO
MALOLOS CITY—The Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to lend Bulacan farmers at least 20 water pumps in preparation to the suspension of water allocation from the Angat Dam.
This came as water elevation at the dam dropped to 181.92 meters above sea level (MASL) yesterday, or less than two meters before it hit the critical 180 masl. Gloria Carillo, head of the Bulacan Provincial Agriculture Office (PAO) disclosed that at least half of the 33,000-hectare ricelands in the province still have standing crops which are supposed to be harvested between today and the first week of June.
“We have at least 15,000 hectares of riceland with standing crops na inaasahang maaapektuhan ng kakulangan ng tubig dahil yung iba ay sa June pa aanihin,” Carillo said. However, she said that DA Central Luzon Office has offered to lend at least 20 water pumps to local farmers, which at eight horsepower each can be used in drawing water from creeks and rivers to be supplied to ricelands that still needs water.
She said that among the ricelands that will harvest last are those located in the first district of Bulacan especially those in the towns of Bulakan, Calumpit, Pulilan, Paombong, Hagonopy and this city. Carillo said they are also encouraging farmers to plant other crops like mongo and peanut, which are import substitutes and are nitrogen fixing plants.
She explained that the move of the DA to lend water pumps is in anticipation to possible water shortage as the National Power Corporation (Napocor) is set to suspend allocation for irrigation. According to Engineer Rodolfo German, general Manager of the Angat River Hydroelectric Power Plant, they would stop releasing water for irrigation if water level at the Angat Dam hit the critical 180 masl.
German also said that in case water elevation remains high until May 15, they will still suspend allocation for irrigation. “It’s defi nite that water allocation for farmers will be cut, whichever comes first,” he said referring to May 15
target date and the critical 180 masl.
