MANILA - Two lawmakers are asking the House of Representatives to probe the government's alleged failure to release funds for the rehabilitation of the Banawe Rice Terraces in Ifugao.
Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez and Abante-Mindanao Rep. Maximo Rodriguez Jr. filed House Resolution 2130, urging the committees on tourism, agriculture and food to invite officials of the Department of Budget Management, the provincial government of Ifugao and other concerned agencies.
The Cagayan de Oro congressman said the rice terraces are in need of restoration as they have been damaged by typhoons which caused erosion.
"Many terraces have already been abandoned because many portions of the ancient hydrological irrigation system are damaged. The other problem in the area is deforestation," he said.
Rodriguez said the restoration of the Banawe Rice Terraces is estimated to cost the government more than P122.65 million. However, no money has been allocated so far.
"These terraces are feeding people living in 13 villages with about 2,000 farmers toiling on these rice farms and trying to rebuild their terraces without government help as restoration work would entail an understanding of how it eventually crumbled following strong rains with the Ifugao's being in the best position to know how to rebuild their terraces," Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said there is an urgent need to look into this matter to determine whether there are funds available for the restoration of the rice terraces.
He added that the agencies concerned should explain if there are available funds which can be utilized for the restoration.
The Banawe Rice Terraces are more than 2000 years old, carved out of the mountains of Ifugao by ancestors of the country's indigenous people and commonly referred to as the "Eighth Wonder of the World".
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