Farmer groups oppose Angat privatization

Two farmers groups have reiterated their opposition to the sale of Angat dam to a private entity. Although the facility’s sale has already been temporarily stopped by the Supreme Court, both the Alyansa ng mga Magbubukid sa Agrikultura (AMA) and the National Rice Farmers Council have once more emphasized that the Angat dam’s control and ownership should stay with the government. “Angat should not fall into private hands," Jaime “Ka Jimmy" Tadeo, president of the National Rice Farmers’ Council (NRFC) told GMANews.TV. For its part, AMA proposed that it should be controlled and managed by an interagency committee. “Once formed, the committee should balance the needs of water needs of Metro Manila, irrigation requirements of farmers, and electricity generation needs," Val Vibal, AMA spokesperson told GMANews.TV. Vibal also opposed moves to have the facility — which also has a power plant — subsumed under the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS). Earlier, officials of the government water agency had expressed intentions to take over Angat dam’s operations, a move supported by Maynilad Water Services Inc. (MWSI), which distributes water in the capital’s west zone. The proposal has yet to be approved by Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, the former president of Maynilad. Placing Angat dam under MWSS control will place Metro Manila consumers’ interest above farmers’ interests, Vibal added. The proposed interagency committee could also address irrigation fees charged to farmers whose lands are irrigated by water from Angat. Covering some 26,000 hectares, an area roughly half the size of Metro Manila, the lands are located in Bulacan and Pampanga. The National Irrigation Agency charges farmers the market price of a cavan of rice per year, Vibal said. “Sometimes, the release of water is ill-timed," he said. “Angat releases water when we don’t need it." Angat is Metro Manila’s primary water source. Water released from Angat runs its turbines which generate electricity. The facility, which has been sold to a Korean company, is managed by the National Power Corp. (NAPOCOR), the Philippines’ largest power producer. While the NAPOCOR controls water releases, it complies with guidelines previously set by the National Water Resources Board (NWRB).—JV, GMANews.TV