14 September 2005
NIA’s big problem: P100M in farmers’ irrigation debts
URDANETA – Farmers in Pangasinan have incurred some P100 million in unsettled irrigation fees, it was gathered Thursday.
The figures are even a staggering P6 billion nationwide, according to Adoracion Soriano of the National Irrigation Administration regional office based in this city.She said the unsettled fees have accumulated since 1975.
Many farmers, she said, do not religiously pay their dues, always claiming poor harvest.
A farmer with a hectare of irrigated riceland is bound to pay NIA three cavans of palay or its equivalent price for the dry cropping and two cavans during the wet cropping., she said.
On behalf of her office, she asked the Philippine National Police to help NIA collect the dues during a courtesy call she and other members of the Pangasinan Association of Government Information Officers (PAGIO) made on Provincial Police Director Alan Purisima last Thursday.
Purisima however noted that such a move requires a court action before the police can directly intercede. But he said the police may escort NIA personnel in areas or circumstances considered risky.
Soriano bared that some farmers get angry when NIA personnel try to collect their unsettled fees. “Hinahabol nga sila ng itak,” she related. (PIA/DOS)
The figures are even a staggering P6 billion nationwide, according to Adoracion Soriano of the National Irrigation Administration regional office based in this city.She said the unsettled fees have accumulated since 1975.
Many farmers, she said, do not religiously pay their dues, always claiming poor harvest.
A farmer with a hectare of irrigated riceland is bound to pay NIA three cavans of palay or its equivalent price for the dry cropping and two cavans during the wet cropping., she said.
On behalf of her office, she asked the Philippine National Police to help NIA collect the dues during a courtesy call she and other members of the Pangasinan Association of Government Information Officers (PAGIO) made on Provincial Police Director Alan Purisima last Thursday.
Purisima however noted that such a move requires a court action before the police can directly intercede. But he said the police may escort NIA personnel in areas or circumstances considered risky.
Soriano bared that some farmers get angry when NIA personnel try to collect their unsettled fees. “Hinahabol nga sila ng itak,” she related. (PIA/DOS)
