2019 irrigation projects, fast tracked

August 5, 2019 Provincial

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Dozens of irrigation projects for 2019 which are worth millions are now being sped up, the National Irrigation Administration-Cordillera (NIA-CAR) said.
NIA-CAR regional manager Benito Espique said projects that were procured and bid out are now in full swing of operations.
Topping the agency irrigation projects are—Lower Apayao River Irrigation Project (LARIP), Marimay Small Reservoir Irrigation Project also in Apayao (Flora) and Alfonso Lista Pump Irrigation Project (ALPIP) with a total project allocation worth P485.350 million.
Other projects include: Restoration/Repair/Rehabilitation of Existing National Irrigation System (RRRENIS); Small Irrigation Project (SIP); Restoration/Repair/Rehabilitation of Existing Communal Irrigation System (RRECIS); Extension/Expansion of Existing Communal Irrigation System (EECIS); and Balikatan Sagip Patubig Program (BSPP), among others.
The agency has targeted 304 total projects (2019) that will generate almost 9,000 jobs and are expected to service a total of 1,913 hectares of new areas, restore 682, and rehabilitate 5,282 hectares in both national and communal irrigation systems spread in the region.
NIA-CAR received a total allocation of P1.498 billion this year. Meanwhile, the agency has completed a total of 241 out of 278 irrigation projects as of the June 30, 2018. The remaining 37 projects are all on-going.
A total of 9,725 farmers benefited from the 278 projects completed and generated 7,520 jobs. The area generated 2,823 hectares of new service areas and restored 426 ha. The agency received a total allocation worth P1.534 billion in 2018.
 
Primo Agatep/ABN