NIA completes P631 million project in Ilocos Sur
THE National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has completed the Barbar Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (Barbar SRIP) amidst the prevalence of COVID-19 pandemic situated in Barangay Barbar, San Juan, Ilocos Sur.
In an announcement last May 3, 2021, NIA administrator and former Armed Forces chief, Ricardo ‘Bong’ Visaya, said the project involves the construction of Earthfill Dam across the Bical River with a height and length of 25.00 meters and 344.15 meters respectively, with a storage capacity of 0.861 million cubic meters.
Irrigation facilities of the project consists of a 5-kilometer main canal and a total of 16.28 kilometers lateral canals.
Access roads were constructed simultaneous with the lateral canals having the same length with the latter, providing mobility and accessibility for farmers and their farms inputs and products.
Visaya said the project would help irrigate some 846-hectares, benefiting 1,156 farmers and their families who are residents of 11 barangays in the area, namely: barangays Barbar, Camangaan, Nagsupotan, Nagsabaran, Muraya, Immayos Sur, Guimod Sur and Bacsil in the town of San Juan and, the barangays of Macatcatud, Caraisan and Barbarit in the neighboring town of Magsingal.
“Aside from increase in agricultural production through additional areas of around 319 hectares and yield increase up to 5.2 metric tons, it also helps in mitigating flood by impounding typhoon waters for use as irrigation,” Visaya said, adding:
“Also, it strengthens watershed recharging the aquifer in the area that will re-establish the vegetation and helps enhance its biodiversity.”
The project’s inauguration was held last May 6, 2021, with Visaya present along with top officials of Ilocos Sur and the project’s beneficiaries thru their local irrigators’ association (IA).
The Barbar SRIP is the second major project completed by the NIA this year despite the difficulties posed by the continuing Covid-19 pandemic.
Two weeks ago, Visaya also announced the completion of four major irrigation projects in Bohol province totaling P913 million that are also expected to boost both agricultural productivity and the local economy.
Visaya said these projects include the P645 million ‘Benliw Small Irrigation Project (Benliw SRIP), located in the municipality of Ubay;
The P260 million Catigbian Small Water Impounding Project (Catigbian SWIP) in the town of Buenavista; P4.5 million Oghob Small Irrigation Project (Oghob SIP); and, the P4.2 million Kagawasan Communal Irrigation Project (Kagawasan CIP) in the town of San Miguel.
