NIA says that coliform outbreak has no effect on CL farmlands

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija, April 7, 2011-The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) assured yesterday the reported outbreak of fecal coliform bacteria in at least 15 rivers in Central Luzon, including river systems that provide irrigation to thousands of hectares of farmlands in the region had no adverse effect on crops.

NIA regional irrigation manager for Central Luzon Manuel Collado said that so far, none of the farmers and irrigators’ associations have filed a complaint regarding the coliform pollution reportedly affecting the 15 rivers.

“So far, one has reported damage to crops related to the coliform bacteria,” Collado told newsmen as he downplayed the report of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

DENR regional forestry division chief Sofio Quintana said that a test conducted last year on water quality of the 15 rivers showed various stages of fecal coliform contamination from human and animal wastes.

Quintana told a water conservation forum that the bacteria, which is hazardous to people are found midstream and downstream of rivers from the watersheds of the Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems in Nueva Ecija, Dingalan in Aurora, Angat-Maasim and Angat-Ipo in Bulacan, Porac-Gumain in Pampanga, Pinulot in Bataan; Bulsa Moriones, Camiling and O’Donnel in Tarlac and Bucao, Cabaluan, Caulaman, Nayom and Sto. Tomas in Zambales.    

The DENR official stressed that there is a need for local government officials to build community toilets and strengthen the enforcement of solid waste management laws in their localities.

Angat-Maasim falls under the jurisdiction of Collado’s office which also covers the merged provincial irrigation management offices of Nueva Ecija, Bulacan and Aurora whose office is situated in Barangay Tambubong, san Rafael, Bulacan. It operates the 39-year-old Angat-Maasim Rivers Irrigation System that runs the Angat Afterbay Regulator Dam that irrigates 30,000 hectares of farmlands in 16 towns in Bulacan and four towns in Pampanga.

Collado admitted that the NIA has no technical expertise to determine the content of coliform bacteria in rivers and in irrigation farms but said that the reported outbreak is not being felt in their areas of operation. (Jason de Asis)