Agriculture is one of the top priorities under Governor Migz Villafuerte’s administration. Farm assistances are consistently given to local farmers to help them cope with the problems they face every day: poor irrigation, high cost of fertilizers and palay seeds, low farm productivity, among others.

Local farmers of barangay Sto. Domingo, Calabanga are among the many farmers affected by farm losses. The main cause of this is the overflowing water coming from the creek going to their farms, submerging their crops in too much water especially during wet season.

“Sobra na sa langkaw an tubig digdi sa Spanish creek canal. Mayo na ining napapaluwasan, kaya naglalaog na an tubig sa uma. An resulta kaini, dai na nakakauma nin tultol an mga paraoma ta nagbabaha na an saindang umahan,” narrated Jessica Prevosa, barangay captain of Sto. Domingo.

Because of this, the barangay council requested from the Provincial Government of Camarines Sur for the dredging of its canal to help the local farmers. Immediately, the Provincial Government sent heavy equipment to help dredge the canal, get the accumulated debris, and help in irrigating the farmlands.

“Magayon ining proyekto ni Governor Migz ta kumbaga natabangan niya an samong mga paraoma na magkaigwa nin magayon na produkto ta iyo man sana ini an hanapbuhay kan mga tawo samuya. Kun igwang dredging, magigin magayon an flow kan tubig, magigin marhay man an status kan uma kaya an sarong paraoma magkakaigwa nin marhay na pagbuhay,” added Prevosa.

The dredging of creek is approximately 3 kilometers long, covering six zones of the barangay. 

Calixto Alto Sr., a 55 year-old farmer, shared, “Kadto pong dai pa nakakalot nin backhoe an creek, nasisibot talaga kami sa pagpa-desague kan tubig. Kan nakaagi po nganing season, kan nagrarom si tubig, nalapa po si tarok ko. Saro pa po itong pagdakol kan pesteng kuhol huli ta hararom an tubig. Gulpi po an naperwisyo diyan kan tubig ta dipisil talaga an pag-desague. Hababaw an kali, hararom an uma.”

Alto, who owns roughly one-hectare of farmland, hopes of getting a better income through the dredging activity. “Tibaad maglangkaw na po an ani ko ta nakalot na an kali, kontrolado na an tubig, asin dai na masasanop an umahan. Nagpapasalamat po kaming mga paraoma ki Gov Migz ta nadangog niya an samong mga hinaing asin problema sa pag-uuma,” added Alto.

Another farmer is 58-year old Ronnie Ordovez, who recalled the status of the creek canal before its dredging activity. “Pigparabusan po dati iyan kan barangay. Alagad haros sarong semana pa sana, turubo na naman ta dai man actually nahuhunggadan an laboy, duot lang an nahahali. Dipisil na maray ta dai natatambakan nin tubig ta hababaw na. Imbes makakua nin tubig na ibobomba sa uma, dai na nahahaloy an tubig ta hababaw na. Saro pa pong problema ta ginigibo na iyan apunan nin basura. Kaya kaipuhan talagang maray an backhoe.”

Ordovez was grateful because the Provincial Government has given them long term solutions to their problem. Apart from that, he was also glad with the temporary employment that he got. “Pasalamat man po ako ta nakakua akong trabaho sa paagi kan pag-assist sa operator kan backhoe nin pirang bulan,” he said.

Realizing their much-needed assistance is a huge relief to the local farmers, including Ordovez and Alto. Through this, new hopes are coming to the lives of local farmers and their families.

The dredging activity is among the many programs of the Provincial Government when it comes to agriculture. Distribution of free hybrid rice seeds, fertilizers, live animals, cash subsidies, and other assistances have been constantly given across the province to aid local farmers with or without pandemic.