By By Tiffany Xu
Even as the municipality of Pavia celebrates its title as Iloilo’s top rice producer for the year 2025, farmers’ group Gapanguma sa Mali-ao (GAMA) unfolds that over 20 hectares worth of agricultural land and 100 peasant households in Barangay Mali-ao faced severe inundation since last August.
In an interview last May 1, GAMA spokesperson Rowena Hilisan attributes the source of the calf-level flooding incidents to cemented canals that private establishments allegedly created at the time.
Farmers in the area attempted to remedy the issue by coordinating with local authorities and diverting floodwater to higher ground. However, members argue that their sole request to restore the original drains is yet to be materialized.
Drowning in debt and debris
Majority of the affected farmers in GAMA are farmworkers and small landowners in Barangay Mali-ao but reside in its neighboring barangay, Cabugao Sur.
According to the organization, they have not been able to earn a net positive during the second and third cropping seasons. Loyal harvesters from outside towns were also unable to make a living in Mali-ao during this period due to said flooding.
“Kung sa amo ja nga plastada aton, sige lang kita gasto nga gasto kag wala kita bawian. Ma cropping kita, wash out man gyapon,” Elisan laments, following the depletion of her savings which stemmed from years of income.
She also noted that when typhoons struck in succession last year, within two days livestock were often completely wiped out and seen floating en masse through the floodwaters. Members personally provided motor pumps and fuel in subsiding the overflow.
On what seems a tall wall of silence
According to GAMA member Nono Hiso, the organization reached out to both the local government unit (LGU) and business establishments on separate occasions.
Aside the LGU’s field visits, GAMA has sought for a direct dialogue with Pavia Mayor Laurence Gorriceta through four attempts. However, the organization was met with the mayor’s staff instead.
Patrila Builders Inc. and LoveFeeds are two of the three establishments Elisan approached to negotiate for either a temporary canal, or a reopening of the original canals they covered with cement. The third, which also cemented the canal surrounding their property, was said to have at least provided a temporary drain.
As per Hiso, Cabugao Sur officials passed a resolution requiring establishments to ensure its drainage systems prior to the main infrastructure, to which he says is not being implemented. Moreover, under Pavia’s Resolution 2025-108, rather than particular actions regarding changes in canal pathways for Mali-ao, clearing and desludging operations were outlined.
Bearing great bureaucratic, economic brunts
Whilst farmers are revered as the town’s primary producers, they also face the greatest economic and bureaucratic brunt of overcoming their agricultural problems.
“Daad intindihan man nila ang mga tawo sa likod. Kanal bi namon ginakinahanglan, tama ba ka hanggud? Hindi man, inang saktuhan lang nga makagwa ang tubig kag makatanom kami nga sige-sige,” says Elisan.
The organization also affirmed its intent to continue its campaign in defense of their main livelihood./PT
