by Secretary Emmanuel Piñol
Chairman, Mindanao Development Authority

Miarayon, Bukidnon - The Mindanao Development Authority’s program to provide upland areas with water for irrgation and drinking received a boost today with the arrival in Bukidnon of a hydraulic ram pump expert.

Auke Idzenga, 2011 Ramon Magsaysay Awardee for his work on rural water supply, today sat with farmers for the establishment of irrigation systems in the vegetable production region.

Auke arrived in Bukidnon today on the invitation of the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA) which is behind the Mindanao Water Supply Program (MinDAWater).

MinDAWater aims to provide sources of water for irrigation and drinking in upland barangays.

Hydraulic Ram Pumps will be established in different rivers and creeks in the vegetable-growing region of Bukidnon.

At least six areas have already been validated by a MinDA technical team aided by Andrei Gallego, a technician from the Alternative Indigenous Development Foundation, Inc.

From Bukidnon, I will bring Auke to Central Mindanao tomorrow to inspect other prospective areas for Hydraulic Ram Pump installation.