Water pumps stolen in Pampanga villages as drought draws near

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO—Six water pumps have been stolen in three villages in Floridablanca town in Pampanga since Monday, as farmers prepare for the impact of a prolonged drought during the dry season cropping beginning October.

Tito Mendiola, former mayor of Floridablanca, said farmers reported the thefts as he went around the villages of Dampe, Apalit and Gutad on Wednesday.

The pumps, owned by rice and vegetable growers in these villages, cost around P50,000 each. These portable pumps draw in water from rivers or underground sources.

Supt. Jhoanna Ponseca-Rosales, Floridablanca police chief, said as of Thursday, two farmers had reported the incidents that took place in separate farms in Dampe on June 28.

Their farms are outside the reach of a small water impounding project (SWIP) that is being built in the village at a cost of P14.9 million. On the same day, another farmer in Dampe lost his cow to thieves. The cow was butchered behind tall grasses. Thieves left the head and intestines.

Villagers said only one person could be behind the thefts, Rosales said.

Several water pumps have also been stolen in San Luis town, according to a resident.

The Department of Agriculture (DA) has increased its budget for small scale irrigation projects in Central Luzon due to the extended drought that is expected to be triggered by El Niño weather phenomenon.

From P63.8 million in 2014, the budget allocation this year increased to P443.4 million, according to DA. The funds are meant for SWIP, diversion dams, concrete canal lining, pump and engine sets for shallow tube wells and open sources, trailer mounted pumps and rehabilitation of SWIP and diversion dams. Tonette Orejas, Inquirer Central Luzon