N. Ecija dam aimed at increasing rice productivity nearly 50% complete
CABANATUAN CITY (PNA) – The construction of a multi-million-peso vital agriculture infrastructure that aims to increase rice productivity in northern Lupao, Nueva Ecija, has reached an actual accomplishment of 46.69 percent at the end of the first quarter this year.

This is 35.89 percent ahead of the targeted 10.80 percent on the bar schedule of the PHP893-million Balbalungao Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP), the National Irrigation Administration reported on Sunday.
Engineer Rosalinda Bote, department manager of the NIA-Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-UPRIIS), in a statement said the construction of the SRIP and its appurtenant is now entering the "critical curve stage".
As such, works will include installation of steel forms and concrete pouring at the spillway structure, water pressure test (WPT), drilling and grouting at the dam core trench.
Expected to be completed in November 2023, Balbalungao SRIP was designed to provide irrigation to some 967.19 hectares of farmland in the villages of Balbalungao, San Isidro, Salvacion, Sto. Niño and Mapampang.