The Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Environmental Management Bureau (DENR-EMB) has scheduled a public scoping next week for the proposed Lipitan Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP), a National Irrigation Administration (NIA) initiative aimed at boosting irrigation and renewable energy in the province.
The scoping will provide stakeholders an overview of the project and allow for public input on potential environmental and social impacts.
The planned SRIP includes a zoned earthfill dam across the Kayakyan River and a gabion dam on the Busuanga River. Once operational, it is expected to support nine communal irrigation systems, covering a total of 6,676 hectares, and provide an additional 2.5 MW of hydroelectric power.
NIA said that beyond irrigation, the project could support local livelihoods and eco-tourism, while helping mitigate climate-related drought impacts that have contributed to declining agricultural productivity. Occidental Mindoro’s palay output dropped 7.2% in 2024, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority.
