Meeting Ka Mario is a blast from the past, as one see flashes of history and nostalgia while he narrate and reminisce the days gone by in Morong, Rizal. Ka Mario is Mr. Serafio SM. San Felipe, President of Wawa-San Pedro Farmers Irrigators Association, Inc. who in 1981 represented Region IV and awarded Outstanding Farmer in the Philippines (source: International Rice Research: 25 Years of Partnership). At 81 years old, he has the energy of a much younger man and still with a hint of naughtiness present in his eyes.
With the help of a well preserved “souvenir program” kindly shared by Ka Mario, the history of their association was unveiled. It was interesting to note that way back in the year 1896, the need of an organized group to manage an irrigation system has already been established. With the initiative of Gobernadocillo Mariano Raymundo and Teniente Mayor Pascual, the Kapisanang Magsasaka, Inc. in Morong, Rizal was established in 1897 headed by Mr. Felix San Miguel (the father of Engr. Nicasio San Miguel, former Regional Manager of NIA Region IV) – “the purpose of which was to help one another think of means whereby the rice production and the number of hectares planted to “palagad” by means of irrigation dams and canals could be increased”. For six years, this organization accomplished many things for the uplift of the economic and living conditions of the town. A temporary earth dam along Morong River was constructed for the irrigation of nearby ricefields. Harmonious relations between landlords and tenants were fostered through the equal share of produce and expenses. (Excerpt from the Souvenir Program in the Inauguration of Irrigation Pump System of Kapisanang Magsasaka, Inc. at Morong, Rizal, April 25, 1953).
The Kapisanang Magsasaka during the early years has prospered. But calamities like locust infestation and drought has reduced them to homestead where they have grown coconut and other fruit trees, in their lands they have planted watermelon and potato. During the years, the association has endured and remained organized. They have finally ventured into Cooperative through the effort of Mr. Felix San Miguel as the Association’s President, who has contacted the Rural Credit Cooperative and on April 28, 1918, their Rural Credit Association was established.
The Coop opened the opportunity for the farmers. For 17 years (from 1918 to 1935), the Coop managed to survive. Twice, they were able to declare 8% dividends and were able to pay their loaned capital. Sometime in 1937, a dam was constructed at U-ugong Falls at a cost of P25,000.00 known as Dam No. 1 included in the Public Works Act.
During the war crisis of the Japanese occupation from 1941-1945, the Kapisanang Magsasaka and the Rural Credit Association has halted operations. In their place – the Morong Rice Growers Association was established. Managed by Mr. Gregorio Pascual, he obtained from Food Administrator Jose Sanvictores the necessary supplies (palay, cordage and nets for the use of local fishermen and clothing for its members).
Along with the on-going war, the farmers continued to maintain the irrigation systems at U-ugong, Wawa and adjacent fields in the Municipality of Rizal resulting in one of the best harvests in 10 years. However, immediate forced evacuation made them leave behind their commodities and all their harvests were confiscated by the Japanese soldiers.
With the end of war, on July, 1945, the Kapisanang Magsasaka, Inc. started to function again. The Rural Credit Association followed suit and credit facilities were extended to farmer-members.
To improve the irrigation system in the area, two pumps were installed and inaugurated on April 25, 1953 by the then Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources. The project was under repayment scheme at P3,300.00 for ten years but after paying the 30% have already been considered fully paid.
For this project, three Irrigation Service Units were formed, the U-ugong Irrigation Association, the Lagundi Irrigation Association and the Wawa Irrigation Association. From these three associations, the Wawa-San Pedro Farmers Irrigators Association, Inc. has evolved duly registered to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
With this history behind them, the Wawa-San Pedro FIA, Inc. with a service area of 80 hectares and 80 farmer-members has endured and continue on being in service. Ka Mario has carry on the responsibility passed on to him by his predecessors. At present, the pumps installed in 1953 is still very much in use, while the engine has already been replaced (because the damaged spare parts are no longer available) using their own fund.
In 1986, during the leadership of Engr. Nicasio T. San Miguel at the region, they were encouraged to avail of NIA program, it did not materialize because they had not the need then and due further to their fear to incur debts. NIA official entry in the association was just last year, in 2014, a 2 km canal lining has been constructed and still under finalization. They are also asking further assistance for a rehabilitation on their irrigation diversion wall for efficient channeling of the flow of water.
The IA have carry on the dual personality of their Coop/Association. Each member has a share of stock with a maximum 10 share of stocks. Members received dividend that depends on their share of stock and the payment they made on irrigation fee. For irrigation fee, Ka Mario is amazed that other farmers balked in paying Irrigation Service Fee (for CIS at 1.5 cavan per year and for NIS at 5 cavans per year) when they are used to paying their fee at 10% of their harvest.
They have a simple yet complicated computation on their income but it works. Every member is satisfied with their ways. Every start of planting season, each member who wanted to irrigate their field will line up in their pump house bringing with them enough diesel fuel to fully irrigate his field (1 gallon is 35 minutes). Their indication that his fuel was fully consumed is the flowing of rice hull in the canal. They pay their Water Pump Operator with an average of 40 cavans of palay per season. They also have two irrigation fee collectors who collected in kind during harvest which they store in a paid ricemill and sold later when the price is higher. They have almost 100% collection efficiency.
Ka Mario is proud to claim that aside from the three (The pump operator and the 2 collectors), not one of the officers receive any honorarium. They have inherited that with their predecessors and they hope to continue the practice in the next generation. Ka Mario’s eldest son – Claudio who is one of their Board of Director is being groomed to take his place when he retire.
One can see that an association built of a strong foundation and with strong good moral values will endure.
Over a century later amidst war and calamities and internal conflicts, their association is still thriving and when asked what he have to say in the status of their association, with a twinkle in his eyes, Ka Mario said “Kasinlakas ng Binatang Nasa Kasibulan”.