Arnaiz bats for free irrigation system to farmers
By ED SESTOSO
Negros Oriental 2nd District Rep. George Arnaiz had pushed for the provision of the free irrigation to the farmers in the province and elsewhere in the country thereby removing mandated fees that bars them to maximize production particularly among rice farmers.
The solon said that he will be filing a bill a bill that would eventually remove restrictive fees imposed by the government which are supposed to be considered as one component of the basic services.
The provision of irrigation systems is presently handled by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), a government owned and controlled corporation
The solon said that he could not understand why the government has to extract fees from the farmers who are using the irrigation system when in fact it is the same sector that should have been freely provided by such.
The solon made known his move during a public hearing of House Committee on Agriculture and Food held in Dumaguete City to determine what are areas that needs to be improved in an existing law called the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA).
The solon said that the provision of irrigation should be regarded similar to the construction of roads and bridges and infrastructure projects.
“Kana diayng maghimo ta ug dalan ug taytayan, ayo diayng pabayron nang mga tawo o mga sakyanan nga magsigi ug agi agi?, stressed the solon who is the pastimmediate governor of Negros Oriental.
Rep. Arnaiz move has got the full backing of the Committee on Agriculture and Food chaired by Rep. Abraham Kahlil Mitra who was also around during the public hearing.
Arnaiz said that he has already instructed the secretariat of his office to draw up some neede requisites prior to the filing of such bill aimed at freeing the farmers from the burden of payments of the irrigation system.
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Tue May 27, 2008 9:08 pm