THE National Irrigation Administration (NIA) expects to start construction soon on the Dumoloc Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP) in Bugallon, Pangasinan.
The SRIP includes a zoned-type, earth-filled dam to be built across the Dumoloc River in Bugallon, Pangasinan. It will channel irrigation water to Cayanga, Cabatuan, and Laguit Dams, as well as the Drainage Reuse Points for Cabigaan.
With a budget of P1.3 billion, the dam is expected to irrigate 1,825 hectares of land during the wet season, and 990 hectares during the dry season. The number of beneficiaries has been estimated at 1,400 farmers.
Separately, eleven completed irrigation projects that took in investment of P35 million were turned over to farmers and members of the Irrigators Association (IA) of barangay Wangal, Benguet.
The projects service 264 hectares of land and stand to benefit 373 farmers and their families.
The eleven projects are the Cabutotan Communal Irrigation System (CIS) in Madaymen, Kibungan; Cotop Pinanchay CIS in Bashoy, Kabayan; Jappa-Minak-Conet SIP in Shilan, La Trinidad; Kapangan Central CIS in Central, Kapangan; Mambolo-Tinongdan SIP in Tinongdan, Itogon; Gasal Amsilweng CIS in Masala, Kibungan; Sapid CIS in Sapid, Mankayan; Taba-ao CIS in Taba-ao, Kapangan; Shalongen Creek-Dalabi SIP in Twin Peaks, Tuba; Umesbeg Caucalan CIS in Taloy Sur, Tuba; and Taloy Sur CIP in Taloy Sur, Tuba.
The NIA said it will be devolving such projects to local authorities starting in 2022, with first to fourth-class municipalities taking charge of their own irrigation networks.
NIA will retain control of National Irrigation System facilities in fifth and sixth-class municipalities. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson