P5.8-B storage dam project underway in Tarlac

MANILA, Philippines - The government is setting aside P5.8 billion to build a storage dam as part of the Balog-Balog Multipurpose Project (BBMP) in Tarlac, one of the country’s most expensive irrigation projects.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) said it has inked the contract for the construction of the storage dam and its appurtenant structures.

The storage dam is under the P13.3-billion Balog-Balog Multipurpose Project Phase II started in 2015 and had its ceremonial groundbreaking in Tarlac last year.

Construction will start anytime soon after the notice to proceed is issued by June, and will take at least three years to complete, NIA said.

Contractors of the project are ITP Construction Inc. and Guangxi Hydroelectric Construction Bureau Co. Ltd.

BBMP II, when fully completed, will irrigate 34,410 hectares and will serve at least 23,000 farmers covering 10 municipalities.

It is projected to increase the cropping intensity within the service area from 24 percent to 200 percent, directly improving crop production and farmers’ income.

The mega dam has a storage capacity of 560 million cubic meters which can mitigate flooding in low-lying areas and provide inland fish production within the affected families.

As a multipurpose dam, the project will also be having its hydropower component which can potentially generate 43.5 megawatts of power.

Meanwhile, NIA continues to embark on the development and construction of hydropower projects in its existing irrigation systems and future irrigation projects nationwide.

Studies showed there are about 357 potential irrigation sites for hydropower.

NIA assured farmers hydropower projects will not affect irrigation component as the water will just pass through the irrigation canal.

The development and construction of hydropower projects is aligned with Presidential Decree 552 which directs NIA to achieve the optimum utilization and control of water resources primarily for irrigation purposes, secondarily for hydraulic power development and for domestic water supply.