Japan-funded irrigation project now complete

MANILA, Philippines — The Japanese government has turned over a P150-million irrigation system in Pangasinan which is expected to boost agriculture productivity in the province.

The San Fabian River Irrigation System under the National Irrigation Sector Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (NISRIP) has been completed.

The 6.2 billion yen (P2.8 billion) NISRIP targets to rehabilitate 11 river irrigation systems nationwide. Of these, five river irrigation systems including the San Fabian have been finished.

The San Fabian subproject covers the rehabilitation of one diversion dam which will provide timely and reliable irrigation service to 1,676 hectares of agricultural lands in the municipalities of San Fabian, Manaoag and San Jacinto.

Around 1,565 farmers in the three municipalities stand to benefit from the project.

The Federation of Irrigators’ Associations will also be strengthened with the construction of seven irrigators association office buildings and three units of combined office and support facilities.

These will be complemented with vital agricultural support including farm machinery.

All these are seen to contribute in increasing farm yield and productivity, accelerating farm income and delivering growth in Pangasinan’s agricultural communities.

Japanese Ambassador Kazuhiko Koshikawa emphasized the value of a fully functioning dam that is a constant and stable source of irrigation.