Hectares of land washed out: Kalinga farmers push dredging of Chico River

By Larry Lopez

TABUK, Kalinga -- Farmers whose rice lands were washed out and covered with boulders wrought by the rampaging water of the swollen Chico River during recent typhoons urged authorities to conduct massive dredging of the river.

Because of high silt deposits, waters of the Chico River find new courses during heavy rains causing flooding of rice lands along its banks.

City Agriculturist Gilbert Cawis warned if there is no solution taken to address the situation, rice production of Tabuk, which is the largest rice-producing area in the province, is feared to go down.

From typhoons Pedring and Quiel alone, 29 hectares of rice land have been totally washed-out while nine hectares more were left with sand and gravel, making it impossible to cultivate.

Farmers’ losses from the last two typhoons were high, Cawis said especially with the high cost of farming inputs today.

Every year, he said about two to three hectares of agricultural land in the area go with the currents of the furious Chico River.

While there were river control structures built to protect flooding in the site, the structures proved futile when water rise and overflows to the fields.

Affected farmers appeal to the Department of Public Works and Highways to heed their call.

Siltation of the Chico River worsened due to uncontrolled illegal cutting of trees in upper Kalinga in exchange for swift cash from sale of lumbers.

Farmers were concerned if there would still be land for their children if the problem is left unaddressed.