The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has committed to fast-track the construction of big-ticket irrigation projects located in Iloilo, Kalinga, and Tarlac that had been stalled due to the coronavirus lockdown.

It assured on Saturday the timely and efficient roll out of the P11.212-billion Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Stage II (JRMP II) in Calinog, Iloilo which broke ground on February 27, 2019; the P4.37-billion Chico River Pump Irrigation Project (CRPIP) in Pinukpuk, Kalinga that had its groundbreaking ceremony on August 8, 2018; and the Tarlac Balog-Balog Multipurpose Project Phase II (TBBMP II) located in San Jose, Tarlac that had its groundbreaking on July 18, 2017.

The Jalaur River project management office reported that as of May 30, 2020, an actual project accomplishment of 27.98 percent against the target of 24.65 percent has been already achieved. Once finished, it will be the first large-scale reservoir outside Luzon. 

The project is NIA's eighth big ticket irrigation project under the “Build, Build, Build” Program of the Duterte administration. 

It includes the construction of three dams--109-meter high dam, 38-meter afterbay dam across the Jalaur River, and a catch dam in Alibunan River. 

An 80-kilometer high line canal will also be constructed to deliver irrigation water from the dams to the rice paddies.

Upon completion, NIA said the JRMP II is expected to provide year-round irrigation water supply to 9,500 hectares of new irrigable areas and rehabilitation of 22,340 hectares covered by five existing irrigation systems in 23 municipalities and two cities in the province of Iloilo, benefiting 22,000 farmers and their families. 

The project is also expected to create 17,000 employment opportunities during the project implementation. 

Similarly, rice production will increase from 3.6 to 5 metric tons per hectare. It also includes other incidental benefits such as development of eco-cultural tourism, fish culture, flood mitigation, and watershed management. 

Furthermore, 6.6 megawatts of hydroelectric power and bulk water supply for domestic and industrial use of 1 CMS will be later implemented.

The Chico River Project Management Office reported that as of the first quarter of 2020, an actual project accomplishment of 43.66 percent for the construction of pump house, transmission line, diversion main canal, lateral canals, appurtenant structures, service/access road, and terminal facilities have been completed.

Once finished, NIA said the CRPIP will be able to provide substantial and timely irrigation water supply to 8,700 hectares of agricultural land in the municipality of Tuao and Piat in Cagayan, and the municipality of Pinukpuk in Kalinga, benefiting 4,350 farmers and their families. 

The project is expected to create 14,784 jobs during project implementation and 8,700 permanents jobs when the project becomes completely operational.

Likewise, it targets to contribute 36,217 metric tons of milled rice to the country’s rice supply, incurring $15.57 million savings from rice importation and yielding an incremental income of P75,193.00 per hectare per year.

Lastly, the Tarlac Balog-Balog Project Management Office has reported an actual project accomplishment of 33.91 percent and 29.34 physical accomplishment for the construction of Balog-Balog Storage Dam and its appurtenant structures. 

Upon completion, TBBMP II is expected to be able to provide year-round irrigation to approximately 34,410 hectares of agricultural land in the municipalities of Paniqui, Pura, Victoria, Ramos, Gerona, San Jose, La Paz, Capas, Concepcion, and Tarlac City in Tarlac province.

It also aims to benefit around 23,000 farmers and their families. 

As a multipurpose dam, the hydropower project within the facility can generate at least 43.5 megawatts of electricity, NIA said.

The high dam can also store up to 560 million cubic meters, which can increase the cropping intensity in the project area from 124 percent to 200 percent, it added.