The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Palawan Irrigation Management Office (PIMO) is urging farmers who qualify for the condonation of irrigation service fee debts to apply for this relief and the eventual exemption of their farms from these fees.
PIMO Senior Irrigators Development Officer Glenda Buenaventura said they are currently actively campaigning for the condonation of farmers’ accounts as part of the program of President Ferdinand Marcos for the agriculture sector, which was announced during his recent visit to Puerto Princesa City.
Buenaventura said farmers need to apply for exemption under Republic Act 10968 or the Free Irrigation Service Act because it is not absolutely free.
“There is a provision in the law na yun lamang 8 hectares and below ang covered (ng free services),” Buenaventura said during the Kapihan sa PIA at the SM City Puerto Princesa last Thursday, August 28.
“Yung mga accounts na before the law was signed in 2018, kailangan mag-apply for condonation but yung current ay exempted na,” she added.
Buenaventura further stated that around 4,000 farmers are qualified to apply for condonation. Out of the 4,000, 1,000 have already filed their applications, and 425 are already approved.
“Kailangan nilang mag-apply para mawala na rin sa aming book of accounts yung kanilang mga utang,” she said.
Meanwhile, NIA PIMO Division Manager Engr. Armando Flores said at present, they have a total of 33 different projects lined up for Palawan this year worth P302 billion, out of which 17 are already completed, and the rest (16) are ongoing and will be finished by December.
Additionally, Flores said they were able to acquire additional projects, such as the installation of solar pumps, which they installed in three locations in Barangay Malatgao, Narra, worth P25 million.
“And there is another P332 million para sa buong Palawan. Sa First District, mayroong seven projects with 12 solar pumps; sa 2nd District may 10 projects with 12 units; and sa 3rd district, five projects with five units, so sa kabuuan, 22 projects with 29 units,” he said.
The projects will be installed in the towns of Roxas, San Vicente, Culion, Dumaran, Española, Narra, Rizal, Quezon, and Aborlan, and in Puerto Princesa City, he said.
