Corazon Ryan, 46, owner of a seven-hectare integrated farm which includes a hectare of fishponds at Mapaoay, Ipil, this town, which depends for its water supply on the Chico River, warned that the pollution of the river will devastate the ricefields and fishponds here as well as affect the white water rafting sports activity.
Due to its wide ricelands, Tabuk has been acknowledged as the "Rice Granary of the Cordillera" and since the adventure sports was introduced on the Chico River in 2001, the province has been drawing local and foreign white water rafting enthusiasts.
Ryan said that she is not only referring to mine wastes but also domestic wastes dumped by the communities along the river all the way to Mt. Province, where the Chico River originates.
The Kalinga Sangguniang Panlalawigan (SP) recently passed a resolution calling on all communities along the Chico River to stop using the river as a dump for their wastes.
Ryan also called on the government especially the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to spearhead the planting of trees in watersheds along the Chico River not only to prevent the depletion of the water but to keep the soil from eroding.
"The government should also strictly implement the log ban in the region," Ryan who is a native of Pasil, Kalinga, but is married to a British national, said.
Ryan made the declarations during the presentation of her second runner up trophy in this year’s Search for Outstanding Rural Women Achievers under the Gender and Development program of the DA November 3.
Ryan was recognized for her "exemplary performance and perseverance in venturing into tilapia production and mini "ulang" hatchery project which become a show window to her townmates and inspired both men and women in her area to recognize woman’s significant role in rural development."
The latest venture of Ryan, who has been hatching various fish varieties notably tilapia, carp and mudfish for a decade now, is hatching fresh water prawn post-larvae through the use of what she calls a "mini and improvised" hatchery that includes a number of recycled lard containers as larvae tanks.
The fresh water prawn hatchery which Ryan says could take on all orders for prawn post-larvae for grow out "provided these are made one-and-a-half months in advance" is the first in the Cordillera.
She learned the technology through a week-long training of the Bureau of Fishery and Aquatic Resources (BFAR), books and a lot of trial and error.
Cordillera BFAR Director Rebecca Dang-awan said that they entered her in the Search for Rural Woman Achievers because of her inspiring show of passion and perseverance in the endeavors she undertakes particularly in the field of fishery.
Ryan was the national Gawad Saka awardee for the fish farmer category in 1997. The Gawad Saka is an annual search for outstanding achievers in the field of agriculture conducted by the DA.
