Region Six Chairman David Armogan yesterday revealed that Regional Executive Officer (REO) Kim Williams-Stephen has indicated to him that no money is available for badly needed works on dams in the region.
Armogan told a press conference that $117 million was received for drainage and irrigation works in the last budget. However, he is contending that the budget should have been managed properly so as to ensure that there is money available for fixing dams at this time, since it is harvesting season.
He explained that works are usually undertaken on the dams twice a year per crop. “This year, however, things have changed. As you know, farmers have been suffering losses from the paddy bug infestation and now the other big problem is dams because now is harvesting time and if the dams are not in good condition, then it would be almost impossible to bring out their paddy without suffering losses,” he said.