CORDILLERA’S IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT UP; MORE THAN 108K HECTARES OF NEW SERVICE AREAS DEVELOP

May 13, 2023 Provincial

NIA-CAR sustains food security programs

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet

A total of 108,625 hectares or equivalent to 58.59 percent of services areas were developed across the region over the years, the National Irrigation Administration-Cordillera (NIA-CAR) reported on
Monday (May 8). These developed service areas include -national irrigation systems (NIS) and
Communal Irrigation System which include NIA assisted, other gov’t agencies, and private.

Based on the Status of Irrigation Development ( as of December 31,2022) report to Engineer Benito Espique,Jr., Regional Manager of NIACAR, the Province of Kalinga topped the most number of
developed service areas with 28,064 hectares or equivalent to 63 percent followed by Abra with 20,237 has.(78.84 percent); Ifugao 18,106 has. (62.38 percent); and Benguet with 16,060 has. (62.38 percent). Mt Province with 13,661 has. (45.45 percent) and Apayao with 12,496 has. (78.84 percent).

While 76,781 has. of areas remain to be developed out of the 185,406 has. of potential irrigable areas across the region. Apayao has the widest areas to be developed with 21,414 has. followed by Mt. Province 16,399 has.; Kalinga 16,126 has.; Benguet 9,686 has.;Ifugao 7,724 has.; and Abra 5,433 has. In 2022, the agency has completed 181 out of the 195 total irrigation projects programmed or equivalent to 87 percent accomplishment. It generated a total 2,827 has. of new areas and restored 1,00.25 has. for a total of 3,827.25 has.benefitting some 18,524 farmers and generated a total of 10,350 jobs.

While 14 projects remain to be completed located in Abra, Apayao, and Ifugao each with three while Benguet (two). Other projects include repair and rehabilitation of irrigation canals and concreting of roads to service areas, among others. The agency was given a total allocation of P1,960,449- billion in 2022. In a related development,for 2023 ,the agency has programmed a total
of 273 irrigation projects with total allocation of P1.703- billion.

Primo Agatep/ABN