LINGAYEN, Pangasinan - The Regional Development Council headed by Dr. Salvador T. Duque has commended the efforts of Gov. Victor E. Agbayani to spur agricultural production in the province.

Duque noted a dramatic increase in the harvest and income of Pangasinan farmers which, he said, augurs well with the overall growth of the local economy.

The latest initiative of the provincial government is the rehabilitation of dilapidated irrigation facilities under the management of the National Irrigation Administration.

Gov. Agbayani led recently the signing of a memorandum of agreement which transferred to a group of farmers the management of a portion of the Agno River Irrigation System (ARIS).

Jose Almendares, provincial agriculturist, said this development was like a fresh shot in the arm for the farmers who need to maximize the potentials of their farmlands.

Aside from the governor, the other signatories included NIA Regional Director John Celeste and Helen Valenzuela, president of the Urdaneta-Villasis Irrigators Association.

Turned over to the irrigators association was a portion of ARIS that was rehabilitated by the provincial government.

NIA owns the irrigation systems. Under the agreement, 50 per cent of the water service fees to be collected will be given to the farmers to enable them to maintain and repair the irrigation facility.

Gov. Agbayani said the provincial government invested about P8 million for the repair of the irrigation systems since NIA had no money to rehabilitate the same.

The rehabiltated project has a coverage area of 1,000 hectares.

Aside from the rehabilittion of NIA facilities, Almendares said Gov. Agbayani is also expanding its program to rehabilitate or construct new irrigation systems all over the province.

Since 1998, more than 60 irrigation systmes had been constructed or rehabilitated with a total coverage area of 16,000 hectares.

“With all these thrusts in agriculture, Pangasinan’s position as the principal producer and supplier of ice and other food crops in the region is assured,” he said.