PIBA: Phl needs water mgmt program

The Philippines is wasting too much water and if Israel could have 10 percent of the water we waste that would bolster to a large extent Israel’s food production.

This was aired by Israeli members of the Philippines- Israel Business Association of which inventor-agriculturist Gonzalo Catan Jr., executive vice president of Mapecon Green Charcoal Philippines Inc., and his wife, the former Nancy Russel, are members.

Catan finds it appalling that the country has so much water brought by strong rains but can’t have enough of it when the dry season comes resulting in heavy losses on agricultural products worth billion of pesos.

This wouldn’t be the scenario if we had an effective water management program. With government assistance, farmers can put water impounding mini dams like what they have in some parts of the Cordillera region where small impounding dams mitigate the effects of drought on crops.

During dry season, Cordillera has minimal damage on crops because of availability of water from impounding projects at strategic portions of river systems and small dams constructed with the help of government agencies. This ensures continuous supply of irrigation water at the height of drought.

When he visited Taiwan, for instance, he observed many water impounding dams. Every day he saw water tankers delivering water to different farms.

Catan also visited the Mararka Foundation in Jaipur, India. The foundation has a large water reservoir in its basement. The water is delivered to the farms for a fee to help fund the foundation.