P10M Fund for Irrigation System of Cebu City’s Upland Barangays

(PIA-7) — Cebu City to build P10 million detachment ponds in upland barangays to avert mild El Niño’s potential water crisis.

Cebu City Agriculturist Joelito Baclayon in Kapihan sa PIA said, by third quarter of this year, they will already mount the detachment ponds.

Seeing the threat of a water crisis due to a predicted prolonged mild El Niño, the Cebu City government will pursue the plan of building detachment ponds in the 28 upland barangays.

Baclayon said there will be six 100 square meter ponds that will be made in each of the 28 farming barangays.

“If the water dries up, this will serve as small farm reservoirs which are way better than natural springs,” Baclayon added.

Natural springs he said has more water spillage due to natural gravity.

Baclayon also said they are in the midst of the design planning and purchasing requests for the making of the infrastructure while negotiating with the farmers whose lots are potential locations of the detachment ponds.

“I also advise farmers to water crops early in the morning and late in the afternoon, not in peak hours in order to conserve water,” Baclayon said.

He said, his office is always extending assistance to help farmers cope with the El Niño phenomenon.

The National Irrigation Authority had reportedly observed that the dams in Central Visayas are now near the critical level.

It was in 2009 and 2010 where great number of losses to the agriculture sector were noted brought about by the El Niño. (mbcn/fcc/PIA7Cebu)