The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) started the construction of the P875 million Cabano small reservoir irrigation project (SRIP) in San Lorenzo, Guimaras last week.
NIA said the project is expected to provide continuous irrigation service in six barangays in the locality. It will also as an agro-ecotourism site that can give additional income to the local government.
Ricardo Visaya, NIA administrator, said among the localities that will be served by the Cabano SRIP are barangays Aguilar, M. Chavez, Suclaran, Cabungahan, San Enrique and Cabano which comprise a total agricultural land area of 861 hectares with 1,304 farmer-beneficiaries.
Visaya added the construction of the project will also induce additional employment to locals.
About 10 percent of the project – with a total land area of 3,280 hectares – is allocated for other purposes like recreational and aquaculture activities.
NIA is the lead government agency responsible in developing all possible sources of water for irrigation and has been partnering with both private firms and other government offices to fully utilize its facilities for value adding purposes.
Among the recent value-adding applied to irrigation systems are the installations of floating solar power plants and run-of-river hydro power projects. – Jed Macapagal
