Flowing Water of Hopes and Dreams
The sound of rolling water barrages the ears as it flows from the vast reservoir into the lined canal and straight onto the field of emerald green. The sun is at its zenith, drying every moisture that the morning dew has contributed to the surrounding fields; but the water’s flow was still relentless.
A man sits by the edge of the canal, calmly breathing this sight in. Though he may look calm to anyone who passes by, deep inside he is elated and his heart has ballooned with so much gratitude. He also felt excited for what the future may bring; he hadn’t felt like this in years.
He remembered the times when he was a child accompanying his father to the dry, drought-stricken field, about to lose hope because yet again their harvest is a failure due to El Nino. He remembered his father saying, “When will our suffering end? We always end up in failure because of drought.”
That memory always served as a motivation to Eduardo “Nonoy” Ebane, president of Colundibus Communal Irrigators’ Association from Columbio, Sultan Kudarat. He worked hard from that day on, his father’s words a driving force to achieve their dreams. Yet, to Mang Nonoy, it seemed like the fate that his father went through has become his own.
“We were extremely dependent on the weather to schedule our crops because if we plowed the field and drought comes, it will yet again be another disappointment to our family and to my fellow farmers. It was difficult enough that the price of palay was plummeting, and then we still had to contend with drought and other natural causes.”
His hope was rekindled when the Department of Agrarian Reform, in coordination with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), chose their association as the recipient of a P56.8 Million-worth irrigation project under the Mindanao Sustainable Agrarian and Agriculture Development or MinSAAD Project. It is a joint project by the Government of the Philippines and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). In the neighboring barangay of Datalblao, a P9.8 Million-worth irrigation project was also to be constructed, to the delight of its beneficiaries.
“The news brought tears to my eyes because my father’s lingering question was finally answered. We were thrilled because with this development, bigger opportunities will surely come for us, farmers,” Mang Nonoy said.
Seeing the irrigation system being built, Mang Nonoy uttered a fervent thanks to the heavens for the answered prayer. For months, he and his fellow farmers eagerly saw the irrigation canal taking form. He often daydreamed what the overflowing water that flows from the river and onto the canal will look and sound like, and what progress it will provide to their community.
On September 3, 2020, that of which they have dreamed of for so long turned into reality; a dream that was realized because someone saw their plight, and did something to ease their burdens, and that is DAR and MinSAAD.
“Finally, our dream, and that of our forefathers, has turned into a reality thanks to the Department of Agrarian Reform. Now, we don’t have to depend on the weather to plant our crops. Because of this project, we have flowing water to keep our fields irrigated all year round.”
Like the waters that flow from the river and onto the bountiful fields, Mang Nonoy's hope springs abundant that the next generation will no longer carry the burdens they suffered in the past, because now, their hope turned into a reality.
By Kathleen D. Sespene – Pagayon, PIO-DAR Sultan Kudarat
With report from MARO Columbio
