NIA jump-starts P1.9-B worth of dam, irrigation projects

Magat dam, a major source of irrigation water in Luzon.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has inked new projects worth P1.9 billion for the construction of dams and irrigation projects in the provinces of Palawan, Ifugao, Ilocos Norte and Nueva Ecija.

The new contracts would also cover provisioning for heavy equipment, pegged at P45.5 million, to fast-track the completion of new infrastructure.

The projects named were the P322.83-million Ibato-Iraan earthfill dam in Aborlan, Palawan; the Alfonso Lista Pump Irrigation Project in the province of Ifugao worth P455.84 million; the P333.37-million Sulvec earthfill dam in the municipality of Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte; the Balbalungao earthfill dam in Lupao, Nueva Ecija, worth P832.97 million.

The Ibato-Iraan zone earthfill dam has a reservoir capacity of 2.39 million cubic meters (MCM), which could irrigate about 860 hectares (ha) of farmlands. The source of water would come from the Ibato and Iraan rivers. It has the potential of becoming the biggest irrigation project in Palawan and could benefit 425 farmers.

Meanwhile, the Alfonso Lista Pump Irrigation Project would provide water supply for the irrigation of agricultural lands in Ifugao. The multiyear locally funded project is expected to irrigate around 2,300 ha of land and would benefit 2,800 farmers. The Magat reservoir would be its water source.

The Sulvec small reservoir irrigation project (SRIP) and the Balbalungao SRIP would have a service area of 900 ha and 840 ha, respectively.

The agency would be acquiring new equipment this year as part of a three-year re-fleeting program that began in 2017. For this year, the NIA has purchased eight units of wheeled loaders.

The agency is hopeful it will be able to resolve this year issues and problems it usually encounters in the implementation of projects.

Notorious for not meeting its completion targets, the NIA blacklisted 11 contractors from its roster last year after a Commission on Audit report revealed the agency has incurred losses of over P20 billion due to delays.