P2.6-B irrigation project in Pangasinan to operate in 2017

URDANETA CITY – In 2017, the P2.6 billion irrigation project of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) would help irrigate 12,000 hectares of farmlands and benefit more than 10,000 farmers in Pangasinan.

Engr. Ceferino Sta. Ana, assistant project manager of the Agno River Irrigation System Extension Project (ARISEP), who presented the updates of the project that started construction in July 2015, said as of September 15, 2016, the physical target for project facilities, field support, institution development program, pre-construction and detailed engineering and right-of-way acquisition are all on-target.

However, engineering and construction works for the Agno River Irrigation System (ARIS) took a back seat with only 16.62 percent accomplishment from the 45.11 percent target. The same scenario was also experienced with the Ambayaoan-Dipalo River Irrigation System (ADRIS) with only 6. 05 percent completed work against the 36.52 target.

“This 2016, there has only been 21 percent accomplishment because of typhoons and monsoon rains that hindered work. But we are working double time to be able to reach 60 percent completion before the year ends,” Sta. Ana said during the communication advocacy network conference of NIA held in Urdaneta City.

Sta. Ana said the ARISEP, which is located in Brgy. Tomana in Rosales town, will improve the operation efficiency of the system thru a modernization-based upgrading package. It will also increase the crop yield and cropping intensity thru physical and procedural innovation.

The project, he said, will enhance the farmers’ productivity and income generation for them to enjoy a decent living and at rising standard. It is also meant to stimulate economic activity in the service area and adjacent project impacted area through employment.

“Before the project started, civil works in the area is only at 22 kilometers. After the project, some 242 kilometers of canal irrigation will be formed. Production of farmers will increase from 2.8 metric tons per hectare to 5.0 metric tons per hectare,” the project manager said.

Farmers income from the present P29,000 per hectare per cropping is projected to balloon at P47,520 while the system performance evaluation of cropping intensity from 111 percent would double to 200 percent, he added. (VHS/PIA-Pangasinan)