The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has accelerated the completion of big-ticket projects, starting with the P1.276-billion Balbalungao small reservoir irrigation project (SRIP) in Lupao, Nueva Ecija.
As the Lubao facility is inaugurated this week, the P2.435-billion Bayabas SRIP in Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan breaks ground just as 141 units of wheeled excavators worth P776 million are turned over to NIA field offices nationwide.
The Balbalungao SRIP will irrigate 967.19 hectares of agricultural land in barangays around San Isidro, Balbalungao, Salvacion and Mapangpang that directly benefits 560 local farmers.
Aside from irrigation, the project will provide other incidental benefits like hydroelectric power development, aquaculture, tourism and watershed management.
Also, the NIA said building the Bayabas SRIP will help irrigate 27,978 hectares of farmland in 17 municipalities in Bulacan and another four in Pampanga tended by 20,016 farmers. The project will provide such other economic benefits as aquaculture development, tourism and watershed management.
