Farmers, businesses, LGU push for collaborative drainage fix
By Manny Regalado Alcalde
Ensure-a long-tern, co-existence through collaboration rather than one side winning at the expense of another. That is the supposedly the “meat of the matter” in the conference held last Tuesday, May 12, 2026 at the Office of the Municipal Mayor in Pavia over concerns of a group of farmers in the municipality.
“We treat the concern of the farmers as a joint problem-solving team rather than a confrontation and I guess all those affected will have to cooperate for a win-win solution to be implemented,” Pavia Vice Mayor Edsel “Bibo” Gerochi responded to a media interview after the meeting that was called to finalize plans and act on the complaint of a group of farmers from Pavia. Gerochi is the acting mayor while Mayor Luigi Gorriceta is out of the country on official business.
The group of farmers who called themselves as GAMA (Gapanguma sa Maliao) estirnated to be numbering to about 40 members were saying that their production were very much affected because of the flooding in their farmlands particularly during the first cropping season in 2025. They were claiming that it was caused by drainage-closure when new buildings were constructed at the Industrial Zone and that it resulted ta massive financial damages to the farm owners.
The Office of Mayor Gorriceta conducted a consultative meeting regarding the drainage issue with the farmers of Brgy. Cabugao Sur, Pavia last December 9, 2025 but until now according to a farmer’s representative nothing was yet done despite positive responses from the business owners who owns the constructed buildings at the Industrial Zone. This meeting were joined by the Office of the Municipal Engineer, Office of the Municipal Agriculture, the farmers’ representatives of business owners from Patrilla Construction, Love Feeds, Bestank and the Office of the Mayor.
In the same consultative meeting last year, representatives from Love Feeds committed to provide a permanent drainage inside their property to allow excess water to flow and lessen flooding in the farmlands. Bestank also committed the same that they will also be providing a permanent drainage inside their property but the budget will still be approved by their site engineer. The commitment to start the drainage construction was March, 2026.
Both, Love Feeds and Bestank, agreed to clear the areas and the canals will be excavated to give way for the drainage and their individual drainage system will be connected to the main drainage to facilitate an easier exit of water and prevent flooding at the farmlands. Patrilla, on the other hand, has suggested that they will try to put up a traverse drainage at the leftmost part of the farmers property but was rejected. It was agreed that the companies will push through with their respective drainage system and connect to the main drainage.
In the May 12 meeting, Patrilla maintains that it would be best for the farmers to allow a small drainage in between their farm to allow flow of water. Municipal Engineer Analina Puerto said they will be collaborating to address the concern in due time. Farmers’ representative Rowena Hilisan said she will meet with the farmers for the update of plans of action for the drainage and flooding concerns.
