Administrative order on water saving technology in rice areas in RP under study

by Alice D. Tabuno

Baguio City (18 July) — A Luzon-wide consultation meeting to formulate and ratify an Administrative Order (AO) on guidelines for the adoption of water saving Technologies (WST) in irrigated Rice Areas in the Philippines was held at the Summer Place Hotel, Baguio City last July 14, 2009.

The consultation meeting was attended by DA Regional Directors, GMA Rice Program Regional and Provincial Coordinators, National Irrigation Administration Officials and Irrigators Association Farmer members, and Rice Implementors from Region I, II and CAR.

DA RFU CAR Regional Director Cesar D. Rodriguez in his welcome remarks stressed the importance of coming -up with concrete guidelines so as to attain or continuously achieve the maximum yield in producing the number one (1) staple food or commodity which is Rice.

Rodriguez cited in his experiences outside Region CAR and Knows that insufficient water supply especially in low-lying areas will have adverse effect in rice production.

The consultation meeting participants had a chance to know what the AO is all about. They gave their inputs, suggestions, issues and concerns on the AO’s general provisions presented by the Secretariat from IRRI, PhilRice and DA.

During the program, Engr. Evangeline B. Sibayan. Technical Working Group (TWG) Chairperson from PhilRice presented the draft AO.

According to Engr. Sibayan, Agriculture is the biggest user of water amounting to 80% of the total freshwater withdrawal, more that 50% of which is used for irrigated rice production.

She further revealed that research results on WST showed that 15% to 35% of irrigation water can be saved without significant yield reduction.

She added that the Philippine Rice self-sufficiency Plan (RSSP) specifies the need for judicial use of water resources in support of the attainment by year 2013 of 100% sufficiency level of the staple food of the Filipinos.

To reach this goal, DA Secretary Atty. Arthur C. Yap issued the AO for the adoption of Water Saving Technologies in the operation of all irrigation system in the country.

The AO is formulated with a framework that considers environmental protection and conservation, sustainability and increased land and water productivity, through equitable distribution of, access to irrigation water.

It also provides for the mainstreaming and institutionalization of water-saving technologies (WST) in the functions, and responsibilities of all relevant government agencies and instrumentalities, mechanism for monitoring the level of adoption of WST among farmers, changes in water regime, in irrigation systems and potential social, economic, environmental and technical impacts.

Furthermore, the AO shall cover the technical considerations of WST, the dissemination and field implementation strategies, Institutional arrangements and other provisions for proper and sustained implementation.

The TWG was formed to oversee the implementation of the AO. They are accountable and will be reporting to the oversight committee. Members consist of Philrice, BSWM, DA-FOS, ATI, NIA, and DA-GMA rice program representatives.

NIA-CAR manager Abraham Akilit said that the Cordillera boasts of vast water resources considering its thick and virgin forests, which had been considered as watershed areas and supplies enough water in low-lying areas in the region.

As soon as the AO draft will be revised, it is ready to become a law which will benefit farmers and fisherfolks in the country. (DA)

photo credit: xornalcerto