Chico river deal approved?

CONGRESSMAN MANGAOANG BACKS CHINA DEAL

KALINGA Congressman Allen Jessie Mangaoang assured no municipalities will be submerged or affected by the P3.1 billion peso national irrigation project between the Philippines and China.

Mangaoang said "The construction of the irrigation project will be at Pinukpuk, Kalinga that would give irrigation to majority of the lands of Cagayan province who are part of the recipients of the 4000 hectare irrigation program and would be the majority beneficiary."

The irrigation program is a China funded project composed of soft loans and grants to which the Chinese government will be the main builders of the project.

Mangaoang said

"The source of the water will be coming from the Kalinga side of the Chico river after the Saltan and Chico river may have joined having a greater volume of irrigation water which would hopefully spill over to the municipalities in Rizal, Kalinga and then to Sta. Maria, Isabela, Enrile and Tuao with other municipalities of Cagayan benefitting from the project.”

Possible affected communities who earlier expressed fears of denudation b were allayed by the Congressman since the irrigation water to be used would be pumped up.

The solon said "That's not true, there will be no areas that would be submerged because the water is to be pumped up. I saw the exact location of where they are to pump up the water and there are no areas to be submerged.”

The irrigation project to be implemented by the National Irrigation Administration will have an initial budget for this year amounting to P3.1 billion pesos or 800 million dollars.