BANGUED, Abra – Four irrigation projects recently turned over to farmers in this province helped boost food production.
Arnel Valera, president of the Barangay Binasaran Farmers Irrigators Association Inc. in Malibcong, shared how the irrigation project from the National Irrigation Administration helped improve their production.
“Idi awan pay ti project iti NIA idiay ayan mi ket one cropping kami lang. Diay lang tiempo ti panagtutudu. Ngem tatta nga nakadanon ti irrigation nga programa iti NIA, et kaasi ni Apo, ag-two crops kami metten,” he said.
Valera added their 30 sacks harvest for one or one-fourth hectare per year doubled to 60 sacks because of easier access to water for their crops.
NIA-Cordillera Director Espique Jr. who led the turnover of the more than P20 million worth irrigation projects benefitting 149 farmers in four towns of the province, said the irrigation projects are in support to food security.
The irrigation projects that have been awarded were the Kabiladan Small Irrigation System (SIS) to the Upper Taducan Agabaab Farmers Irrigators Association Inc. in Sabnangan, Luba; Usong creek-Lagangilang-Nagtipulan Pawan SIS to the Pawan Nagtipulan Lagangilang Farmers Irrigators Association in Nagtipulan, Lagangilang; Binasaran SIS to the Barangay Binasaran Farmers Irrigators Association Inc. in Binasaran, Malibcong; and the Villa Mercedes Communal Irrigation System to the Barangay Villa Mercedes Farmers Irrigators Association Inc. in Villa Mercedes, San Quintin.
The projects were received by the irrigators association presidents who expressed their gratitude and assured their continuous support to the maintenance of the assistance from the government.
They also look forward to more partnerships to improve food production and livelihood in their communities.
During the turnover ceremony, Espique said the Cordillera has an allocation of P70 million for the repair of damaged irrigation systems due to Typhoon Egay. Abra, being the hardest hit province, will get the bulk of the budget for repairs.
“Ivavalidate namin ‘yung mga sira na kung maliit ay pagtutulung-tulungan ng mga irrigators’ associations pero kung malaki at ‘di nila kaya, tutulong kami at ipoprogram namin for funding ang mga ito,” he said.
Abra is allotted P192M for project implementation under the regular allocation in 2024. – Jamie Joie Malingan
