CAO to dig up water catchments in uplands

THE Davao City Agriculturist Office is set to procure new equipment to dig up water catchments for water storage in the upland areas within the city.

Office-in-charge of the City Agriculture Office Leo Brian D. Leuterio in an interview with Sun. Star Davao yesterday said creating upland ponds as catchment basins is among the proposed plan to address the impending El Niño phenomenon.

“There is some news with the impending El Niño so together with the Department of Agriculture even Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), the City Agriculturists Office (CAO) reacts to it hopefully in a manner that is appropriate,” Leuterio said.

He added that among the things they are prioritizing now is the digging of the water catchment in Marilog and Paquibato area.

“Davao City Mayor Sara 'Inday' Duterte-Carpio released the 10-million for the CAO for our project proposal that includes buying a new backhoe,” he said.

He said that around P7-million will be allotted for the purchase of backhoe, and the remaining fund will be used to purchase mini 4x4 trucks cost of delivery covered, as well as pertinent operations costs.

He said that having their own equipment is good for their office because hiring private groups to do the job is much too costly and time consuming.

Leuterio said that the diggings will be done throughout the year until such time that all the areas will be covered.

“This will be a big help because the water catchment can be used as a fishpond. If there is rain, it can be filled with water and if there is no rain, and there is no water problem, the farmers can also place tilapia or other fishes,” Leuterio said.

Leuterio said that they expect the backhoes to be out in the last quarter of 2017 as it will undergo bidding process.

He said that they want to have two more backhoe in the coming years.

Their primary target for diggings of catchment will be in Paquibato area because the same district had a hard time in a previous drought season.

He said that they also have seed bank to address augment the farmers need. KVC