NIA completes Palawan project

MANILA, Philippines — The National Irrigation Administration has completed the P30-million extension project of an irrigation system in Palawan despite restrictions brought on by the pandemic.

NIA-Mimaropa said the P30-million extension project of Lucbuan Communal Irrigation System (Lucbuan CIS) in Puerto Princesa City had already been completed.

The extension comprises terruvian diversion works attached to a 14-inch high-density polyethylene pipe, 2.46 kilometers in length and 20 meters of canal lining, designed to prevent leakage and breakage.

The pipe installed by the Palawan Irrigation Management Office (IMO) has paramount potential energy gravity traversing Maranreg River, irrigating 50 hectares of agricultural land in Barangay Lucbuan, benefitting a total of 73 farmers and their families.

Lucbuan CIS is now operational and can irrigate a total of 82 hectares of agricultural land in barangays Maruyugon and Lucbuan in Puerto Princesa.

Due to the high demand of food caused by the pandemic, Palawan IMO is now working on the  2020 extension project of Lucbuan CIS for an additional canal lining to commence this year using the agency’s savings amounting to P5 million.

Once completed, additional 20 hectares of agricultural land can catch up for irrigation before the year ends.