The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is targeting to inaugurate 35 irrigation projects worth nearly P3 billion this month of August, the agency's top official said.
In a statement, NIA Administrator Ricardo Visaya said that NIA "continues to develop and construct irrigation systems nationwide amidst the pandemic", adding that for the month of August alone, the agency will inaugurate 35 projects with a combined worth of P2.7 billion. He also said that during the last two months, NIA inaugurated 153 projects worth more than P11 billion.
"There is no such thing as a pandemic for NIA. Our work continues despite it," Visaya said.
Visaya made the statement after NIA turned over three irrigation systems in Camarines Sur, Bicol, a move expected to help 2,532 farmers and irrigate as much as 1,963.12 hectares of agricultural land.
These projects, with an aggregate cost of P46.9 million, include the P26.160-million Pump House and Farm Pond at Tigman- Hinagyanan-Inarihan River Irrigation System (THIRIS) in Calabanga, Camarines Sur, 2) P14.077-million Punta Diamante Pump Irrigation System in Canaman, Camarines Sur, and 3) P6.686-million rehabilitated Taisan CIS Dam (Sibagat Small Reservoir Irrigation Project) in Minalabac, Camarines Sur.
The construction of Check Gate of Punta Diamante Pump Irrigation System is expected to provide timely and reliable irrigation service to 250-hectares of agricultural land in Barangays Haring, San Agustin, San Vicente, and portion of Dinaga, Canaman, Camarines Sur benefitting 122 farmers and their families.
This, while the construction of Pump House, Farm Pond, Canal Structures and Canalization Works of Tigman-Hinagyanan-Inarihan River Irrigation System (THIRIS) will provide irrigation service to 1,363.12-hectares in Calabanga, Camarines Sur that will benefit 2,245 Bicolano farmers.
Meanwhile, the newly rehabilitated Taisan Dam is set to irrigate 350-hectares of farmlands in the Barangays San Jose and Magadap in Minalabac, Camarines Sur with 165 farmer-beneficiaries.