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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Bernos: Farmers shouldn't be left solo with land leveling

Bernos: Farmers shouldn't be left solo with land leveling

Published Jun 7, 2026 04:22 pm

At A Glance

  • Rep. JB Bernos has urged government support to accelerate farmland leveling as a drought response, stressing its importance for efficient water use under El Niño conditions.
  • The DA and NIA promoted land leveling alongside rainwater harvesting, irrigation rehabilitation, solar-powered systems, and rotational water distribution.
  • Bernos, co-author of HB No. 6516 or the Bangod Bukid bill, proposed a national program to restructure farmlands, integrate mechanized systems, and provide small farmers access to machinery and financial aid.
Abra lone district Rep. JB Bernos (Facebook)
Abra lone district Rep. JB Bernos (Facebook)


Abra lone district Rep. JB Bernos is appealing to the government to help accelerate farmland leveling for more efficient water use, even as various local government units (LGUs) remain wary of the threat of drought due to El Niño.
“With the threat of drought once again upon us, we must implement measures that would allow our farmers to utilize resources more efficiently and effectively. Land leveling is one intervention that could benefit our farmers and help them weather the loss or lessening of irrigation,” Bernos said on Sunday, June 7.
His comment came after the Department of Agriculture (DA) and National Irrigation Administration (NIA) announced its planned interventions for the sector during a briefing before the House Committee on Agriculture and Food.
Among the strategies the two government bodies cited were rainwater harvesting, rehabilitation of irrigation systems including the installation of solar-powered irrigation systems, rotational water distribution, and “double dry" cropping schemes.
The NIA also said that it was encouraging farmers to adopt water saving practices in field preparation, including land leveling.
Land leveling in agriculture is the process of reshaping a field’s surface into a flat or gently sloped plane to ensure uniform water distribution, efficient irrigation, and improved crop yields. It eliminates high and low spots that cause uneven watering, soil erosion, and poor plant growth.
It does wonders for water efficiency since it saves 10 to 25 percent of irrigation water by preventing pooling and dry spots.
However, the Luzon solon said that small farmers might be hard-pressed to conduct land leveling due to lack of resources and the big investment needed. It is precisely for this reason that the national government must step in to help.
“Mahihirapan ang mga maliliit na magsasaka na patagin ang lupang sinasaka nila sa kabila ng kawalan ng makinarya. Kaya mahalagang suportahan sila ng pamahalaan sa layuning ito,” Bernos stressed.
(Small farmers struggle to level their land because they lack machinery. That is why government support for this goal is essential.)
The lawmaker, along with Solid North Party-list Rep. Ching Bernos, authored House Bill (HB) No. 6516 or the Bangod Bukid bill. It seeks to establish a National Farm Land Leveling and Reconstruction Program to accelerate the implementation of the practice across the country.
He said that the measure would restructure uneven or degraded farmlands to allow efficient irrigation and drainage; integrate mechanized farming systems to reduce post-harvest losses and labor inefficiencies; and strengthen farmer productivity and resilience against climate-induced risks such as droughts and flooding.
The bill would also establish engineering standards for farm reconstruction, promote contiguous and block farming, and ensure that small farmers gain access to modern machinery and financial assistance.

Related Tags

EL NINO JB Bernos DA NIA irrigation Land leveling
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