Farmers from Malolos City and municipalities of Plaridel, and Calumpit have united to demand urgent intervention from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to address long-standing irrigation issues that have crippled their agricultural productivity. In a position paper submitted by farmers in a dialogue today, September 26, with NIA officials, the farmers outlined the critical impacts of the province’s deteriorating irrigation infrastructure, exacerbated by the effects of the recent El Niño and La Niña weather patterns.

NIA Administrator Engr. Eddie Guillen, NIA Region 3 Officials, Gabriela Women’s Party Rep. Arlene Brosas, GWP Vice President for Internal Affairs and Amihan Women Secretary General Cathy Estavillo and former DAR Secretary Rafael Mariano attended the dialogue held at the NIA Central Office.

The farmers, who organized through local groups such as the Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas (KMP) and the Alyansa ng Magbubukid ng Bulacan (AMB), emphasized that poor irrigation systems have led to recurring flooding during high tide, extensive crop damage, and saltwater intrusion in farmlands near the Angat River.

Aldrin Cruz, a farmer leader from Barangay Iba O Este in Calumpit, highlighted the local issues: “Due to the Pampanga River Delta Project, more than 100 hectares of farmland in our area have become permanently submerged. The remaining 15 hectares lack any irrigation, which is crucial for our survival. We call on NIA to provide fresh water access and rehabilitate the fields destroyed by saltwater.”

“Our farms are in dire need of rehabilitation,” said Graciano Manalad Jr., leader of the Nagkakaisang Magsasaka ng Malolos. “The irrigation systems that should be helping us are failing, and the lack of fresh water has made it impossible to cultivate our land effectively.”

In addition, farmers from other areas, such as Sitio Halang in Plaridel and Sumapang Bata in Malolos City, are also voicing their concerns about blocked irrigation channels due to land-use conversion projects. In Barangay Barihan, farmers report that clogged water outlets along NLEX have prevented water from reaching their farmlands, further worsening the impact of drought conditions caused by El Niño.

The farmers’ demands include:

1. Rehabilitation of Damaged Farmlands – Rebuild critical irrigation infrastructure to block saltwater from entering farmlands.

2. Access to Free Irrigation Services – Establish proper irrigation systems and guarantee that fresh water can reach rice and farmlands year-round.

3. Immediate Provision of Farming Equipment – Provide essential tools like motor pumps and deep wells to help alleviate the immediate burden on farmers while long-term solutions are developed.

Additionally, the farmers in Barangay Sapang Bayan are also struggling with similar issues. The farmers there report that many of their fields are submerged due to delayed and incomplete irrigation projects. Lucio Artuz, a farmer leader from the area, stated, “We need the water outlet project to be finished to supply fresh water to our fields. Until then, we face continued flooding, preventing us from planting more than one crop per year.”

For years, farmers in the area have faced declining rice yields due to saltwater flooding, exacerbated by incomplete irrigation systems. A failed water outlet project, which was meant to connect Barangay Sapang Bayan to nearby water sources, has left large tracts of farmland unusable. An uncompleted flood control gate has allowed saltwater to regularly flood fields during high tide, ruining crops and limiting planting to only once a year. They are urging the NIA to resume the two abandoned water infrastructure projects and build flood control gates to manage the flow of water from the Angat River.

The farmers collectively call for the NIA to irrigate rice lands in the said towns to help restore productivity, ensure food security, and safeguard their livelihood. They also demand a comprehensive irrigation strategy that involves local consultations, rehabilitation of infrastructure, and timely completion of all pending projects. #