Ifugao gov: Where's millions of pesos for terraces' rehab?

By Charlie Lagasca and Aiza Liza P. Namingit

LAGAWE, Ifugao – Except for P10,000 cash, the Ifugao provincial government has not seen any of the millions of pesos supposedly allotted by the national government for the rehabilitation of the renowned rice terraces.

This, as Ifugao Rep. Teddy Brawner Baguilat pushed for rehabilitation of rice terraces in Congress by filing the “Ifugao Rice Terraces Rehabilitation Act” (House Bill Number No. 5692) in Congress Jan. 16.

“It seems that (some national government officials do) not know who the governor of Ifugao is. They should have informed us about all these allocations first before announcing them,” said Ifugao Gov. Eugene Balitang.

Balitang was commenting on the reported P30 million allocated for rehabilitation of the terraces, once the country’s top tourist attraction, which have been damaged by years of erosion aggravated by giant earthworms, lack of interest among young Ifugaos to maintain them, and the recent typhoons.

The Department of Agriculture recently announced the release of P20 million for the terraces’ rehabilitation, while Sen. Francis Pangilinan’s office reported it had allotted P10 million for the terraces through the National Irrigation Administration.

Even Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala pledged the amount during his visit to the province late last year.

Other senators also vowed to allot funds for the terraces’ restoration.

Pangilinan himself, along with Ifugao Rep. Teddy Baguilat, even led the launching of the Save the Terraces Movement last year to further get national and international attention for the rehabilitation of the terraces, once dubbed as the Eighth Wonder of the World.

“I think it would be best if these different government agencies coordinate with our office before making announcements. It’s a different situation here in the field since, if we are unable to explain matters to our constituents, people tend to think that we have pocketed the amounts,” Balitang said.

The provincial government has been following up with the Office of the President the release of some P20 million as initial funding for the terraces’ rehabilitation.

A DA official earlier said the department’s allotment would possibly be completed by March and coursed to the various towns where the terraces are located.


The terraces are situated in the villages of Batad and Bangaan in Banaue town; Hapao, Maggok, Dikkitan and Bakung in Hungduan town; Mayoyao town; and Nagacadan and Julongan in Kiangan town.

“I’m tired of (government officials) making political statements (concerning the release of funds for the terraces). If they still don’t have the money, they should not make any announcements so that our people would not be expecting any¬thing,” Balitang said.

Last year, Balitang said they needed at least P200 million to bring the terraces back to its picture-perfect state.

But what they got so far, he said, is only P10,000, plus 200 kilos of rice, 100 kilos of mongo and 10 kilos of dried fish as DA assistance.

Meanwhile, Baguilat, in filing the “Ifugao Rice Terraces Rehabilitation Act” (House Bill Number No. 5692) said, “Over the years, the Ifugao Rice Terraces has been deteriorating due to natural disasters and human activities. If it is not safeguarded and conserved, it may become a mere part of humanity’s history rather than a valuable world cultural heritage. Its current state is a wakeup call for us to do something now,” Baguilat said.

He added the bill should be one of the priority bills of this Congress because of its urgency.

The bill sought to adapt an Ifugao Rice Terraces Rehabilitation and Preservation Plan (IRTRPP), a comprehensive framework that will guide the rehabilitation of the terraces.

The IRTRPP requires that rehabilitation of the terraces goes hand-in-hand with conservation and protection of natural resources and cultural traditions of the province.

It also provides establishment of the Ifugao Council for Sustainable Development and that the farmer-beneficiaries will be part of the council to ensure full and effective participation of stakeholders in decision making and implementation.

It also stipulated that the national government do its part in rehabilitating the terraces as the adoption of the IRTRPP will be backed by annual appropriation to ensure the IRTRPP will be implemented.

Baguilat said time is of the essence in the rehabilitation of the irrigation systems because it is now the traditional planting season and several rice terraces clusters especially those in the UNESCO-inscribed heritage sites are without water because of recent typhoon damages.

Baguilat urged the Department of Agriculture and the National Irrigation Authority, to fast track release of the funds.

DA Secretary Proceso Alcala had committed P20 million during his visit in Ifugao last November 25, 2011 for the rehabilitation of the terraces.

Sen. Francis ‘Kiko’ Pangilinan has also allocated P10 million from his PDAF channeled through NIA for the repair of the irrigation system of the terraces of Banaue.

“An entire year’s crop, not counting tourism revenues will be lost if these funds are not released as soon as possible,” Baguilat said.