The City Government of Davao, through the City Agriculturist’s Office (CAgrO), continues to offer the rainwater catchment project to Dabawenyo farmers in the upland areas of Paquibato and Marilog districts.
Engr. Karen Joy Delos Reyes, an official of CAgrO’s Agri-fisheries Project, said during the ISpeak Media Forum that the rainwater catchment project not only helps in storing rainwater for future use but also prevents water runoff during heavy rains from the upland areas of the city to the lowland areas.
“Isa sa tumong sa rainwater catchment is katong mga tubig ulan nga instead nga mapadulong siya sa atoang lowland, macatch siya sa atoang na establish or naexcavate nga rainwater catchment [One of the purposes of the rainwater catchment is to prevent water runoff from the upland to the lowland areas during heavy rains as the rainwater catchment we established or excavated serves as a catch basin for the water],” she said.
Delos Reyes added that once the ground becomes saturated with rainwater, the water will begin to fill the excavated rainwater catchment. When the stored rainwater is yet to be utilized for irrigation and other purposes, it can serve as a fishpond where farmers can put fingerlings.
She said that farmers often sell a portion of the fish for additional income or serve as their viand.
Engr. Gilbert Iglesias, another official from CAgrO’s Agri-fisheries Project, also said that the established rainwater catchments in Paquibato and Marilog were beneficial to the farmers in the area during the drought as they became their source of water for irrigation.
Since the implementation of the project in 2021, there are already 500 units of rainwater catchment in the upland areas of Davao. Farmers who are interested in having a rainwater catchment in their area may reach out to their respective barangays so that their barangay may forward the request to CAgrO by submitting a resolution, through the district offices of CAgrO, for evaluation.
Once evaluated and the area is found to be viable for a rainwater catchment system, CAgrO will request the landowner to execute a deed of usufruct with the barangay.
The establishment of more rainwater catchment systems is still ongoing. Iglesias also said that their office provides other services to farmers including the provision of farm equipment and machinery. CIO
