DAR selects Tinglayan, Pasil, Rizal under ARISP III

Tabuk, Kalinga (25 July) — Yield in upland rice production in Tinglayan this province will surely increase with the up-coming implementation of an agricultural project package jointly finance by the local government unit (LGU) of Tinglayan and the Japan for International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

According to Adeline Basiag, ARISP-III agriculture development coordinator, Tinglayan, whose rice terraces get its water supply through ancient communal irrigation systems (CIS) canalled from streams and creeks particularly from the Bunog brook, is getting incapable of maintaining these olden CIS because of the extent of damages incurred through the years.

“And the famous Unoy rice that found its way to Montana, USA and also the native rice variety which Tinglayan anchored its yearly festival is decreasing in yield since water irrigation is also getting scarce,” she said. Hence, Tinglayan LGU is biding for the total rehabilitation of its irrigation systems with outside help, Basiag added.

On the other hand, Geraldo Alcantara, ARISP-III institutional development coordinator said, under the agricultural production program of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo aimed for food security for the country, construction and rehabilitation of CIS has to be undertaken in the countryside to regain profitability of traditional rice varieties that grow under minimal tending cost.

He said, the President Arroyo in approving the extension of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) has paved way for the resumption of agrarian reform Official Development Assistance (ODA) from JICA of Japan to the Philippines and Kalinga is recipient to the Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Project – III (ARISP-III) this year.

Meanwhile, Jocelyn Lemmao, ARISP-III monitoring and evaluation coordinator said that aside from Tinglayan, Pasil and Rizal were also proposed ARISP-III areas for possible ODA assistance. “The indicative development plan prepared by the Department of Agrarian Reform(DAR), Provincial Office here proposed for Pasil the construction of another farm-to-market road (FMR) and communal irrigation project (CIP), the same with Rizal but added is a potable water system,” she said.

The DAR and ARISP-III coordinators here said the project is approved in principle and JICA is willing to finance 40% of the P32 million project package in Tinglayan for the Bunog to Matok CIP (P20M), the FMR from Bugnay-Buscalan to Butbut (P10M), and a trading post (P2M)in Poblacion.

Lemma said Tinglayan Mayor Johnny Maymaya committed that the LGU provides 60% of the project package.

A pre-validation and consultation was conducted last week at Tinglayan by the regional project management committee. Results will be given to the LGU and consultants for their reference.

“Said loan will be paid back from amortization of beneficiaries through the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) which is the agency to implement the CIP. The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will take charge of the FMR construction, Alcantara said. (PIA-Kalinga)