The Department of Agriculture (DA) has began the construction of the irrigation project in Dona Remedios Trinidad (DRT), Bulacan to enhance agricultural and aquaculture livelihood opportunities for investors.

In a statement, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said the P2.43-billion Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP) in Barangay Bayabas, Bulacan, will benefit not only the local community but also residents in Pampanga.

“Four years from now, people of Bulacan and Pampanga will benefit from the Bayabas SRIP—especially our rice and crop producers,” Laurel said.

The Bayabas SRIP is expected to water 150 hectares of new areas, as well as 27,828 hectares in 17 towns within Bulacan and Pampanga.

Moreover, once the irrigation project is completed, the SRIP will lessen flooding that would affect food production in the two provinces.

“This will ensure that the harvests and revenues generated would increase,” agriculture chief said.

“It is President [Ferdinand Marcos’] desire to improve the lives of Filipino farmers,” he added.

Besides the farm benefits, Laurel noted that the Bayabas SRIP would be powered by renewable components of the infrastructure.

“The Bayabas SRIP is also envisaged to generate electricity from solar and hydropower components of the irrigation infrastructure, and help in promoting aquaculture in the area,” he said.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Dec. 13, Laurel inaugurated the Balbalungao SRIP in Lupao, Nueva Ecija alongside President Marcos.

The Nueva Ecija Irrigation is worth P1.28 billion.

Around 976.2 hectares of land will be covered by the project and is expected to benefit 560 farmers in Lupao.

They also handed over the first batch of heavy equipment in Subic, which was procured by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).

The DA said that the equipment turnover is part of the NIA’s re-fleeting program that involves 330 excavators and other materials needed for the construction.

The three-year initiative cost approximately P2.59 billion.