NIA-CAR implements rotation of water delivery

April 21, 2019 Provincial

The National Irrigation Administration-Cordillera (NIA-CAR) implemented the rotation of water delivery to service areas in the provinces of Apayao, Abra, Kalinga and Ifugao due to the dwindling of water supply from its major irrigation systems caused by El Niño. NIA-CAR regional manager Benito Espique, Jr. said rotation in water delivery are being implemented in-West Apayao-Abulug Irrigation System (WAAIS), Abra River Irrigation System (IS),Upper Chico River Irrigation System (UCRIS) and HAPID Irrigation System (Ifugao).
Espique said the agency’s intervention was due to the marked reduction of water from major river systems, namely: Apayao River; Abra River; Chico River and Ibulao River.
Espique also said an initial 58 hectares (ha.) of farm lands were affected due to drought to date.
In Apayao, 48 hectares of rice land were mostly affected, and in Abra 10 hectares of cornfield.
The said farmlands are serviced by WAAIS and Abra IS, a NIA-generated irrigation system. Espique said his agency has implemented controlled irrigation using devices such as lawn sprinkles to cope with the dry spell and to ensure that a desired level of moisture is maintained for the plants.
Other mitigating measures being undertaken by the agency to avoid water wastage were the construction of Small Water Impounding Dams, repair and maintenance of paddy dikes.
The NIA official urged farmers to adjust cropping calendar and pattern of planting and plant short-gestating rice varieties to sustain food security.
Meanwhile, a total of 217 irrigation projects worth P1.108- billion were completed by the agency in 2018.
These irrigation projects included the following: Small Irrigation Projects; Restoration/Repair; Rehabilitation and Extension of National Irrigation Systems (NIS); Communal Irrigation Systems (CIS); Establishment of Groundwater Pump Irrigation Systems (EGIP); Balikatan Sagip Patubig Program (BSPP); Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Component (CARPIC); and Climate Change Adaptation Works CCAW); among others.
A total of 2,823 hectares of new service areas were generated and 757 hectares were restored, which benefitted 9,030 farmers region wide.
Patrick Resurreccion, acting division manager of Kalinga, said 87 irrigation projects were completed in his area, representing 99 percent accomplishment; Winston Daoas and Jone Dulnuan, provincial head of Mt Province and Ifugao, respectively reported that each completed 34 projects; Benguet, headed by Godofredo Velaque achieved 28; Jovito Tadeo, Jr. of Abra, said it finished 23; while Leonardo Lamangan, acting division manager of Apayao has completed 11 projects.
Espique said 61 projects are on-going and are expected to be completed in the first semester (June) this year. NIA-CAR was given a total allocation of P1.534 billion from the 2018 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
 
Primo Agatep/ABN