DA bares own version of Balikatan

While joint military exercises between US special troops and the Armed Forces of the Philippines are taking place in the south under "Balikatan 02-1", the Department of Agriculture has also come out with its own version of the no-nonsense program in Basilan.

But unlike the one involving night surveillance, simulated combat operation and similar exercises, DA’s game plan, dubbed Balikatan Sagip Patubig Program is for real. It consists of the actual provision of various forms of assistance to the rebel-infested province to maximize its agricultural and fishery potential and make it the country’s bright spot, rather than its current political eyesore, before the international community.

By matching funds approved by President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo under the Agricultural and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) with counterpart funds from local governments, activities under the program, mainly irrigation projects, get moving – and with a determined effort to have them accomplished as scheduled.

During a recent visit to mark the province’s 28th anniversary, Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Montemayor said the DA, through the National Irrigation Administration, will sustain in earnest the implementation of its version of Balikatan so as to enable Basilan farmers get access to irrigation and have their farms become more productive.

"In the past year, we have already completed the irrigation of more than 250 hectares here," Montemayor said. "But we will continue to build more facilities in 2002."

The DA chief has committed to Basilan governor Wahab Akbar for NIA to find ways of finishing the P10 million Sapah-Bulak communal irrigation project in the island province this year.

He said other irrigation projects up for completion in 2002 are the Banas communal irrigation system in Lantawan, the Colonia-Sumagdan project in Isabela City, the Dimanggal pump irrigation project in Sumisid, and another undertaking in Lamitan.

Aside from irrigation, Montemayor said the Arroyo government would also provide additional resources to fully support Basilan’s farm and fishing sector and to help bring a lasting peace and order situation in the troubled province.

During his visit, the DA chief inaugurated two farm facilities in Isabela City which will help local farmers acquire high quality seedlings and provide them with much needed agricultural technology support. They are the research outreach stations (ROS) and the Basilan model socio-economic enhancement development (SEED) project in Barangay Baluno.

Montemayor said if government and the people would work collaboratively, the dream for Basilan to be free from bondage of poverty, lawlessness and criminality can be achieved and with its full agriculture and fishery potential realized, making it a model of success for the entire nation to emulate.