Bohol, Nueva Ecija irrigation projects worth P1.52B launched
TWO IRRIGATION projects worth a combined P1.52 billion were recently launched in Bohol and Nueva Ecija, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) said.
The NIA said in a statement that it inaugurated the P645-million Benliw Small Reservoir Irrigation Project in Ubay, Bohol on May 27. The project is a zoned earthfill dam 21 meters high and 517 meters long.
“Its reservoir has a catchment area of 5.60 square kilometers that can store 2.86 million cubic meters of water,” NIA said.
“The project is expected to provide timely and reliable irrigation water supply to 400 hectares of agricultural land in the barangays of Benliw, Emelda, Cagting, and Sinandigan, benefitting 600 farmers and their families,” it added.
It said the project will also help with flood control, watershed management, soil-conservation, aquaculture production, and agro-tourism promotion.
The NIA said it also launched the Upper Tabuating Small Reservoir Irrigation Project in General Tinio, Nueva Ecija on May 25.
The project, which cost P878 million, is an earthfill dam 25.56 meters high and 760 meters long. Its reservoir has a total water storage capacity of 4.96 million cubic meters.
“Completed in December 2020, the dam is able to irrigate the entirety of its target service area of 700.87 hectares. It covers the barangays of Nazareth, Rio Chico, Bago, and San Mariano in the municipalities of General Tinio and Peñaranda in Nueva Ecija, benefitting 223 farmers and their families,” the NIA said.
Counting the two projects launched in late May, the NIA said it inaugurated four projects worth P2.18 billion for the month.
The other two are the P631-million Barbar Small Reservoir Irrigation Project in San Juan, Ilocos Sur and the P30.33-million Sicalao Dam in Lasam, Cagayan. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
