The Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) approved P9.04-million worth of projects to be implemented this year in the third district.

Third District Rep. Arthur Yap had it approved in the General Appropriations Act for 2015 under the HEART (Health, Education, Agriculture, Rural development and Tourism) program.

Since agriculture is a key component of his HEART program, Yap continuously lobbies and facilitates projects which will help the farmers in the third district.

For this year 2015, Yap facilitated the grant and release of barangay projects from BSWM which include Small Scale Irrigation Projects (SSIPs) under the High Value Crops Development Program (HVCDP) at P60,000 for each pump irrigation for open source (PISOS) distributed to barangays Cagawasan, Buenasuerte, Rizal, and Cansungay in the town of Pilar.

In PISOS, is a type of irrigation system wherein a pump is used to lift water from river, stream, marsh to the main canal for the distribution to the service area)

Other projects are solar pumps at P600,000 each for Lila and barangay Upper Bonbon in Loboc.

For the SSIPs under the rice program, Yap facilitated the rehabilitation and improvement of San Jose Small Water Impounding Project (SWIP) worth P2 million in barangay San Jose, Mabini; rehabilitation and improvement of San Rafael SWIP also at P2 million in barangay San Rafael, Mabini; rehabilitation and improvement of Villarcayo SWIP at P600,000 in barangay Villarcayo, Carmen; and rehabilitation and improvement of Poblacion Norte SWIP at P1 million in barangay Poblacion Norte, Carmen.

“SWIP is a small scale earth dam structure with height of 5 to 15 meters, constructed across a narrow depression or valley to collect and store rainfall and runoff during rainy season for immediate and future use”.

SWIPs collect and store surface run-off water during the rainy season for immediate and future use, conserve soil and water, irrigate crops and water livestock, used for fish production or duck raising, minimize flooding, minimize soil erosion and siltation of fertile bottom lands, and used as a community recreational area.

Yap also facilitated organic fertilizer production under the Organic Agriculture Program wherein eight units of shredders for organic fertilizer distribution amounting to P2 million in the municipality of Carmen for the  La Salvacion Farmers Association, El Salvador Farmers Association, Del Carmen Farmers Cooperative, Nueva Vida Sur Farmers Association, Guadalupe Womens Association, Carmen Multi-Purpose Cooperative, Bicao Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative, and Villafuerte Multi-Purpose Cooperative.

“The DA-BSWM advocates the utilization of organic fertilizers as one of the methods to minimize groundwater pollution, restore soil fertility, reduce the vulnerability of marginal farmers on the high cost of chemical fertilizers, and promote the gradual adoption of Organic-Based Agriculture nationwide.

According to BSWM Executive Director Silvino Tejada, the grant of these projects is in line with the thrust of the Department of Agriculture (DA) to provide product support services to farmers and other clienteles.

“Nagpasalamat ako sa DA ug sa BSWM nga gi-accept ang akong recommendation sa mga natabangan nga mga barangays.  Ang loses sa planting, niabot ug 15 percent. So, kung padayon ang atong pag-apply sa modern equipment sa farming, malikayan ang15 percent loses.  Kana nga 15 percent kita na unta na sa mga farmers.  ‘Hinaut ko nga ang mga farmers dili mabalaka tungod kay naa pay additional nga mga proyekto para sa ilaha,” Yap said.

An orientation seminar and awarding of the projects was conducted last May 28 at the RDJ Mountainview Resort in Bilar.