The Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas-Negros assailed the closure of the National Irrigation Administration-Bago River Irrigation System that started on Feb. 1 and expected to last at least three months.

The group said in a statement that the closure will mean loss of income for poor farmers in Bago City , Valladolid , Pulupandan, San Enrique and portion of Murcia and La Carlota.

KMP-Negros said they are already suffering from high production cost, cost of fertilizer, usurious credit and now the irrigation services are closed.

The group asked why it takes nine years to rehabilitate the NIA-BRIS.

NIA records show the BRIS Rehabilitation and Improvement Project is an assisted project of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, covering three cities and four municipalities.

The P1.86-billion project that started Feb. 1, 2003 and supposed to be completed on Nov. 30, 2007, aims to achieve sustainable improvement in the operational efficiency of the system and help increase agricultural production, among others.

After rehabilitation, its service is expected to reach 11,952 hectares and its target beneficiaries, 5,301 farmers.

The project is composed of physical rehabilitation/improvement; improved water management through rehab and improvement; irrigation administration development/strengthening; institutional development; and watershed management and development protection.

KMP-Negros said they believe the project has become a milking cow of corrupt bureaucrats, considering that it has a P 1.9 billion loan from the JBIC.

KMP-Negros said they also condemn the increasing cost of irrigation fee which does not translate into better services by the NIA, adding that farmers are now paying P1,500 per cropping even during the rainy season.*NLG

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