NIA readies P2 billion irrigation projects nationwide

MANILA, Philippines — The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has inked five contracts worth nearly P2 billion as part of efforts to cover more agricultural areas nationwide.

NIA administrator Ricardo Visaya said the biggest project is PL Sebastian Construction Inc.’s P832.97 million Balbalungao Earthfill Dam in Lupao, Nueva Ecija.

The project is aimed at providing sustainable development in the rural area by improving agricultural productivity.

It will utilize the water resources from the Balbalungao River through the construction of a 27-meter high embankment dam, canal network and appurtenant structures, and the rehabilitation of the existing dam of San Isidro communal irrigation system which is envisioned to eventually function as a regulator dam.

NIA also signed for the P455.84-million Alfonso Lista pump irrigation project in Ifugao with Tokwing Construction Corp. and ASC Construction and Concrete Products Joint Venture.

The project, whose water sources will come from the Magat reservoir, is expected to irrigate around 2,300 hectares of agricultural lands, benefitting 2,800 farmers and their families.

Another project is the P333.37-million Sulvec Earthfill Dam in Pasuquin in Ilocos Norte by RD Interior Junior Construction. It will have a service area of 900 hectares covering nine barangays and benefitting nearly 800 farmers.

Also in the pipeline is the P322.83-million Ibato-Iraan Earthfill Dam in Aborlan in Palawan with Green Asia Construction and Development Corp. It is expected to have a reservoir storage capacity of 2.38 million cubic meters and will irrigate about 860 hectares of farmlands in four barangays.

The source of water will come from Ibato and Iraan rivers. The project is expected to be the biggest irrigation project in Palawan which will benefit 425 farmers and their families.

The P45.5-million heavy equipment project with Civic Merchandising is also part of NIA’s three-year re-fleeting program.

NIA, as the lead government agency mandated to develop all possible sources of water for irrigation, continues to provide efficient, reliable, and sustainable irrigation service to farmers through the construction, rehabilitation and maintenance of irrigation systems nationwide.