The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) on Thursday announced the doubled water allocation for irrigation in support of the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) rice contract farming program.

From 3 cubic meters per second (CMS), the DENR will increase the water allocation for irrigation from Angat Dam to six CMS from June to July.

“Nagre-ready na ang some of our farmers (are preparing) for the contract growing period that will start in June. Meron tayong (We have) farmers contracted by our government,” DENR Undersecretary Carlos Primo David said in an interview aired on the People’s Television Network.

NIA chief Eduardo Guillen, meanwhile, thanked the DENR for increasing its water allocation.

“Napakalaki po, ito po iyong kailangan namin talaga 6 CMS po at iyon din po ang binigay sa amin. So, malaking pasasalamat po namin (It’s huge, 6 CMS is what we need, and that’s what they gave us. So, we are really grateful),” he said in an interview.

The Rice Contract Farming scheme aims to accelerate and sustain quality rice production, attaining rice sufficiency and security by providing necessary agricultural inputs and capital to enhance farmers’ productivity and competitiveness.

Through the NIA’s rice contract farming program, the government will be able to offer PHP29 per kilogram worth of rice in Kadiwa sites starting in August.

Guillen said the NIA will grant 10 kg. purchase limit for each family, higher than the current 5 kg. limit offered in Kadiwa stores.

“Actually, ang target namin for August is four million sacks of 10 kg., and then September and October, tig-three million po iyan (our target is 4 million sacks of 10 kg. and then September and October, 3 million each),” he said.

Overall, the target production volume for the contract farming is set at 100,000 metric tons (MT), equivalent to 100 million kilograms, or 10 million sacks of 10 kg. rice.

Water allocation for consumers

The DENR, meanwhile, said it will impose a 51CMS allocations for the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) from Angat Dam, starting June.

This is slightly higher from the 49 CMS water allocation from May 16 to 30 for customers of Manila Water and Maynilad in Metro Manila and nearby provinces.

“We don’t foresee any water interruptions. Meron pa rin iyong regular repairs na ginagawa sa ating (There are some regular repairs made for our) infrastructure,” David said.

Earlier, MWSS Department Manager Patrick Dizon said the increased allocations were made possible due to the gradual increase of water levels in dams after moderate to heavy rains brought by Typhoon Aghon.

“So, we are lucky enough kasi nagiging maganda iyong forecast ng PAGASA (because of the favorable forecast of the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration for) the next months, and also based on the forecast, hindi naman aabutin sa (it will not reach the) critical level,” he said, referring to Angat Dam.

The critical level for Angat Dam is 160 meters, while its minimum operating level is 180 meters.

As of Thursday 8 a.m., the water level in the dam is 179.70 meters. (PNA)