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Ifugao ancestors had ingeniously carved out the rice terraces from the Banaue mountain slopes centuries ago, using crude farming tools and sourcing water for irrigation from upland streams that where kilometers away.

The terraces have been hailed globally for its modern engineering design. Through the ages, the Ifugaos maintained this world heritage, including its irrigation canal.

During the pre-war, a village crier would shout for help downstream whenever a portions of the terraces' canal eroded.

Each household would carry a shovel and join the rest in following the irrigation canal upstream to riprap damaged portions.

Today, younger generations are struggling to maintain worn-out terraces and irrigation canals through the "bayanihan spirit" known in Ifugao as "Ubbo."

But constant canal repairs uses up farming time, prompting younger generation farmers to formally organize an irrigators association to negotiate for government's assistance.

The government needed the call of the Indutmog Farmer's Association in Kiangan, Ifugao for a more permanent irrigation canal with the release of P1.9 million irrigation fund sourced out by Ifugao Congressman Chungalao and Vice Mayor Puguon.

Though it will water only over 20 hectares of small patches of terraced rice paddies, the canal, once in operation, will benefit over 100 farmers and their families.

Wilbert Bayawon, 37, a village councilman and president of the association, said that Puguon assured him last Tuesday that funds would be released for the over two-kilometer community irrigation canal under the "Patubig Program" of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).

The association members will construct the canal themselves with a counterpart fund of P190,000.

October 26, 2005.

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