NIA- CAR COMPLETES 23 SOLAR PUMP IRRIGRATION PROJECTS WORTH P120 MILLION

September 10, 2022 Provincial

The National Irrigation Administration Cordillera (NIA-CAR) has completed 23 solar irrigation projects with a total value worth P120.528 million located in different parts of the region. Based on the latest Solar Powered Irrigation Project Report submitted to Benito Espique, Jr., Regional Manager of NIA-CAR by Jayco Matias, Construction Unit Head of the agency said that those projects has generated a total of 365
hectares of service areas, benefitting 460 farmers. Espique said those irrigation facilities which are
now in operational is in line with the government food security program.\

Twenty more solar powered irrigation projects are currently undergoing construction. Actually, in span of five years (2018-2022), the agency has a total allocation worth P168- million for its 43 solarpowered irrigation projects. Kalinga, rice producing province of the region has the most number of solar-powered
irrigation projects with 17, followed by Abra (14), Benguet (7), Apayao (4), and Isabela in Quezon -Upper Chico River Irrigation System UCRIS (1) for a total of 43.

Funds for said projects were sourced from the following- Establishment of Groundwater Pump Irrigation
Project (EGPIP), Balikatan Sagip Patubig Program (BSPP), Extension/Expansion of Existing Communal Irrigation System (EEECIS), Restoration/ Repair/Rehabilitation of Existing Communal Irrigation System (RRRECIS), Small Irrigation Project (SIP), and Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program Irrigation Component (CARP-IC).

In a related development, for 2023, the agency has a total 23 solar-powered irrigation projects in line with proposed total budget allocation worth P118.9-million. Abra has lined up nine solar-powered projects
with got the biggest proposed budget worth P51.9M followed by Kalinga (7) at P28M, Benguet (4) with P22M while Ifugao and Apayao with one apiece project, respectively, with a similar allocation worth P8.5M for a total of P17M.

Primo Agatep/ABN