Restoration of Banaue Rice Terraces continue
REHABILITATION for the abandoned old stonewalled rice terraces of Banaue, Ifugao will push trough
As part of the Universal Harvest Inc. (UHI) community social responsibility program, Doctor Milagros Ong-How pledged a P3M fund intended for the restoration of the rice terraces starting at barangay Viewpoint.
“As of now we have cleared and rehabilitated 20 and planted 8 hectares with the fund,” said Mayor Jerry Dalipog.
“Out of the 1,607 hectares, 540 hectares were abandoned in 2015,” added Dalipog.
In 2016, the restoration started with a tour by the local government to different countries such as Indonesia, Japan and
China rice terraces to see how other countries preserve their rice terraces.
Dalipog added the municipality is bracing for another P3M from the same sponsor for the continuation of the rehab.
Terraces Restoration Initiative United Movement for the Preservation of the Heritage (TRIUMPH) that handles the ‘chawa’ program, comprised of a 40man team from both the LGU and farmers tasked in cleaning, leveling, tiling and planting in the abandoned fields.
The chawa, which started previously as local government unit program practice 5050 percent sharing with the LGU and the owner of the abandoned fields.
With the restoration of terraces thru the funds and sponsor, Dalipog said the harvest of the terraces will be sold and be used for the next operation to sustain the rehabilitation of the abandoned terraces.
The restoration of the 540 hectares abandoned area is seen to be finished within two years given the budget.
Aside from the P3M budget, the mayor added P200M is already inserted in the General Appropriations Act of 2018 for the restoration of the terraces.
At least P60M was channelled to Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) for the rehabilitation of two rice terraces heritages in Batad and Bangaan.
Another P109M is set for Department of Public Works and Highways for the stonewalling of the eroded terraces within the different remaining barangays, while a P14.4M is set aside for irrigation by the Department of Agriculture and P11M for the development of trails.
Dalipog manifested their submission of the requirements to TIEZA for finalization and bidding for the implementation of the project.
The 2,000-year-old terraces of Banaue, also known as the ‘Eight wonder of the world’ was declared as one of the UNESCO world heritage site in 1995 manifesting the skill of the Ifugao people.
In 2012, a volunteer activity was also made to restore the rice terraces prior to the damaged caused by typhoons.
Most volunteers from Manila travelled to Banaue referred to as “weekend warriors” and later on, other towns came and offered help as the movement expanded.