Soils bureau develops database for irrigation investments

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Agriculture (DA) is set to develop a P1 million-database system on small scale irrigation projects (SSIPs) to keep track of the government’s investments.

Through the DA-Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM), the database will serve as basis of the government to locate investments made nationwide.

“We strongly believe the establishment of this database will improve and intensify our campaign for transparent leadership as you can see where the money of people goes to,” said BSWM director Silvino Tejada.

An SSIP is an irrigation infrastructure with limited service areas, constructed within short gestation of 180 days in locations where permanent or continuous water sources are not available.

It is managed by an  individual or group of farming households on their land holdings.

SSIPs also refer to small water impounding projects, small diversion dam, shallow tube wells and small farm reservoir that provide irrigation security during dry seasons.

The database will also be made available for the public to serve as a reference material for research and development.

“Through this database, research and development studies and other related documents will be made available through web access by the stakeholders,” Tejada said.

Tejada added the establishment of the database would help facilitate the identification of landholdings suitable for crop production.

The database is slated for completion in the last quarter of the year.

The DA-BSWM has conducted consultation workshops on the compilation and development of database in Davao, Cebu and Quezon City.