IRRIGATION projects totaling P46.92 million were recently inaugurated in Camariñes Sur, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) said.
NIA, in a statement on Monday, said it launched on July 28 to 29 the following: P26.16 million Pump House and Farm Pond at Tigman-Hinagyanan-Inarihan River Irrigation System in the town of Calabanga; P14.08 million Punta Diamante Pump Irrigation System in the town of Canaman; and P6.69 million rehabilitated Taisan Communal Irrigation System Dam (Sibagat Small Reservoir Irrigation Project) in the town of Minalabac.
The irrigation project in Calabanga will serve 1,363.12 hectares and benefit 2,245 farmers, while the Canaman project will serve 250 hectares tilled by 122 farmers.
The Minalabac project will benefit 165 farmers covering 350 hectares of agricultural areas.
Meanwhile, Camariñes Sur Rep. Luis Raymund F. Villafuerte, Jr. asked for NIA’s help on the completion of the Sustainable Bicol River Irrigation System.
Mr. Villafuerte said more than 2,000 hectares of agricultural areas will be covered by the project.
“Camariñes Sur is top five among rice producing provinces in the country despite having few irrigation systems since the majority of our lands are rain-fed. If the Sustainable Bicol River Irrigation System is finished, it could push the province into the top three major rice producers,” Mr. Villafuerte said.
For his part, NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya said 153 projects worth P11 billion were inaugurated in the last two months, while around 35 projects amounting to P2.7 billion will be launched this August.
“NIA continues to develop and construct irrigation systems nationwide amidst the pandemic. The agency remains committed to its mandate of developing and maintaining irrigation systems in support of the agricultural program of the government most especially in this time of pandemic,” Mr. Visaya said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave