NIA-CAR gets P1.094-B budget for CY 2020 irrigation projects

February 10, 2020 Provincial

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – The National Irrigation Administration- Cordillera (NIA-CA) has a total allocation of P1,094,667 billion for CY 2020.
The amount is to fund a total of 291 irrigation projects (national and communal) in the region. According to Benito Espique, Jr, NIA-CAR regional manager, the amount is intended to generate 793.20 hectares (ha.) of new areas and restore 1,069.25 ha.
Espique said the budget (2020) is also to finance the repairs and conduct rehabilitation works of national and communal irrigation systems.
As this developed, the agency has started its public bidding for CY 2020 projects. “Our task in in line with NIA’s mission – to plan, construct, operate and maintain irrigation systems consistent with integrated water resource management principles to improve agricultural productivity and increase farmers’ income,” Espique emphasized.
Based on NIA-CAR records, since Espique became the officer-in-charge and eventually its regional manager, the agency’s allocation and projects had increased significantly in span of six years.The Over-All Allocations for CY 2015-2020: P740.604M (CY 2015), P653.016M (CY2016), P1,151,278 billion (CY 2017), P1,534,674-B (CY 2018), and P1,498,725-B (CY 2019), and P1,094,667-B (CY 2020).
As to the Status of Irrigation Development in the region, as of December 31 (2019), a total of 99,911.42 hectares were serviced/developed or equivalent to 53.89 percent. And there are still 85,494.58 ha. to be developed. Cordillera region has a total 185, 406 ha. potential irrigable areas.
“To achieve it, our agency has to sustain its momentum in delivering the needed services to our farmers,” Espique said, stressing strong collaboration between his agency and farmer-irrigators association is important.
He rallied farmer-irrigators to be active and strengthened its associations towards assisting the government in maintaining and protecting the irrigation systems for it is vital for food security.
For 2020, actually, the Alfonso Lista Pump Irrigation Project (Ifugao), remain the biggest beneficiary with P300 million.The ALPIP (pump irrigation) will service a total 2,300 ha. and to benefit 1,315 farmers.
Some P51.288 million goes to the Establishment of Groundwater Pump Irrigation Project (EGPIP).
While P75.7 million is allotted to the Lower Apayao River Irrigation Project (LARIP), under the new national irrigation program.
National Irrigation Systems (NIS) got a total budget worth P120.693 million which is broken down to: Climate Adaptation Works P55 million, Restoration of National Irrigation Systems (P33M), Improvement of Service Roads in National Irrigation Systems (P17.693M), and Coconet Slope Protection (P11M), For Communal Irrigation Systems (CIS): Restoration of Communal Irrigation Systems (P71.467M) and and Coconet Slope Protection (P16.5M).
For special irrigation projects —Small Irrigation Projects (SIP) has a share of P96.599M and Balikatan Sagip Patubig Program (BSPP) P52.525M.
Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program-Irrigation Component (CARP-IC) has P28.020M. Budgeted under the agency’s general administration and support include— repair works of National Irrigation Systems P137M, Communal Irrigation Systems P41.174M, and Groundwater pump irrigation systems P6.297M.
And P79.344 million allocated for Support to Operations which include feasibility study and engineering, and irrigation management transfer support services.
 
Primo Agatep/ABN