Sunday, September 09, 2007 Irrigation projects now allotted more budget
LA TRINIDAD, Benguet - The National Irrigation Administration-Benguet said P23-million worth of irrigation projects under the three-year pump priming project of the agency would be completed next month.
Benguet Provincial Irrigation engineer Benito Espique said the amount was allotted for the restoration, repair and rehabilitation of NIA-assisted projects that would irrigate 526.65 hectares of land, 263 hectares for non-rice and 263.5 for rice producing areas.
Beneficiaries include 927 farmers. The projects could also generate employment of 1,064 individuals as per NIA reports.
Of the 31 projects, 18 were already completed while 13 are still ongoing and targeted for completion October.
The three-year pump priming irrigation project is a component of the North Luzon Agri-Business Quadrangle aimed to spur agricultural development.
The national government increased funding for irrigation projects compared with those allotted in previous years with an average funding of P6-M to P8-M annually, said Espique. But last year, the budget allocation increased to P12-M.
In line with the commitment of President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to earmark P8-billion for irrigation projects for 2008, Benguet submitted a proposed short list and long list of irrigation projects.
Espique said the proposed P11.8-M worth of projects under the short list are the Balikatan Sagip Patubig (BSP) – P2.3-M; Rigid for pump construction and rehabilitation - P500,000; and repair and rehab – P9-M, which includes Apugan in Baguio City.
For the proposed long list of projects worth more or less P70-M, components are repair and rehab, P50-M; BSP - P15-M; Rigid, P900,000; survey for Highland Agno River Basin Irrigation Project - P1-M and the more than P1-M allotted for other projects.
Espique said the top management of NIA is doing its best to work out the inclusion of all the short and long listed projects that would sustain and increase agricultural production in the locality.
