P18 million set for Sagada water project

HAPPY WEEKEND
Gina Dizon

SAGADA Mountain Province -- What awaits the 18 million sourced from the office of Sen. TeofistoGuingona 111? It was early this year 2011 when the funds were received by the municipal treasury of Sagada with no word of when it shall be implemented. While the money was popularly floated that such will be used for the Boasaw water works, what happened since then?

Information from some folks of Tanulong noted that they shall await support by October this year from their village-mate Andrew Bacdayan based in the US and chairman of the newly organized US-based Cordillera Social Venture Capital Foundation which has the water cooperative of Tanulong as its pet project. It was learned that Bacdayan shall support the water works concerns of Tanulong.

Yet, word from some Tanulong folks led by their barangay officials goes that they accept the Boasaw waterworks even before October ends.

In light of these developments, SagadaVice Mayor Richard Yodong was favorable to suggestion of participants during the Watershed Summit last May 26 and 27 this year that Sagada waters be pooled in a common reservoir.

For one, this water needy Poblacion has separate water springs totaling 15 sources in Patay;three in Dagdag and 10 in Demang. Participants were strong in forwarding that these sources be pooled for a centralized water system. Other observations were noted that excess water from a private reservoirs be channeled to a public reservoir per barangay where everyone shall partake of following observations that some households have water flowing freely for hours from their water tanks.

Nearby Kiltepan barangays of Kilong, Antadao and Tetep-n Norte and Sur note 27 sources of water including domestic and for irrigation including Am-ampo, Kayapong and Ub-uban. Kilong is able to maintain not installing hose from springs to homes so people fetch water from the spring. Water is a major problem during summer like other barangays of Sagada.

The Central Poblacion zone has communal sources of water namely Malebelba, Pilaw and Namsong. These water sources provide irrigation water to ricefields downstream aside from domestic source having been accessed by residents from central Poblacion as sources of water either to their homes or communally directed to a water reservoir. As a result, ricefields are denied of water especially during the summer season.

Word reaching people here that some individuals have privatized water rights are frowned opun as this goes against the customary practice of water as a right for all. This is based on the customary rule that water is a communal right and should be enjoyed by everyone.

In the south Central zone is water-rich Balugan with 17 spring water sources bordering Tadian and Bauko via the watersheds of Anam-am, Killampong, Balintoogan, Babantoc, Bantey and Makopotan posing rich sources of water. Some of the waters from Ampakaw also flow towards Balugan. Ambasing on the other hand has only 6 water sources coming from the upper watershed of Pakad/Ampakaw. A major flow of water goes to the other side of the town of Besao. Some clan-owned springs serve as sources of water.

Southern barangays are Suyo, Ankileng, Nacagang and Taccong. These barangays have rich sources of water particularly that from the communal Alipenew/Pandey Watershed which provides irrigation water to all the ricefields of the southern barangays. Waters pass to Pongas Falls then flows to Bakong River then to the ricefields of southern barangays. Other water sources are in 7 water springs in Ankileng, 9 in Nacagang, 5 in Taccong and other ‘bubon’ (wells) in Suyo and Payageo. Waters here are a plenty during the rainy season.

The northern barangays of Bangaan, Madongo, Pide, Fidelisan, Aguid are rich with communal and clan owned watersheds emitting 10 water sources in Tanulong, five in Fidelisan, three in Aguid including the luxuriant water spring in Gosod, four in Pide, three in Madongo and ten in Bangaan.Particularly in Aguid are communal watersheds namely Bomayeng, Kak-aongi, Panegtegan, Matoymi, and the tri watersheds atop the much coveted Boasaw creek- Mengmeng, Ominney and Mabullibo.

Mabilleng irrigation is sourced from Aguid where it irrigates all the ricefields of Aguid, Pide and Fidelisan, Madongo and Tanulong. Madongo and Tanulong also source their irrigation water from Boasaw Creek where the waters flow to Abra and diverted to Tanulong.

Meantime, a number of water funds have reached Sagada through the years. A report and accounting are needed on where these have gone including the P5 million from Sen. Rodolfo Biazon in the early 1990s.