THE EIGHT-kilometer long Calaoacan Irrigation Pipeline System in Barangay Burgos, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija is now operational, after it was inaugurated on Thursday by the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) in Central Luzon and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) under the Forestland Management Program (FMP).
According to Paquito Moreno, Jr., executive director of DENR in Central Luzon, the P9.4 million irrigation system was funded by JICA as an agroforestry support facility (ASF) for the 10-year Forest Land Management Project (FMP) in the more than 44,000-hectare Pantabangan-Carranglan Watershed that will ensure the survival of forest plantations during dry months. It will also strengthen the resiliency of local communities in the area in the face of global warming and climate change.
The irrigation system, composed of seven water tanks connected by eight kilometers of pipes, is expected to provide water to over 850 hectares of forest plantations and agroforestry farms and will benefit 900 families of upland farmers.
DENR- Provincial Environment and Natural Resources Officer (Penro) Joselito Blanco , turned over the said water system to the care of the people of Sitio Calaoacan in Burgos village. Meanwhile, Mayor Mary Abad of Carranglan said that they are committed to sustain the irrigation system and ensure that it will benefit more generations to come.
The Calaoacan Irrigation Pipeline System is the fourth major agroforestry support facility in Carranglan town funded by JICA in two years after the three concrete and hanging bridges in Pantabangan and Carranglan town.