UCRIS contractors urged to hasten rehab

CITY, Kalinga - Contractors of the remaining rehabilitation of the Upper Chico River Irrigation System (UCRIS) are given up to February 1, 2020 to complete the 15 project- packages contracted to them.

In a forum at the Kalinga Provincial Irrigation Management Office (KaPIMO) , Division Manager Engr. Ronilio Cervantes urged contractors to comply with the required working calendar days in order for farmers to farm within the cropping cycle when the irrigation system resumes operation.

It can be recalled that water cut-off for UCRIS was scheduled from November 15, 2019 to January 31, 2020 to pave way for the remaining rehabilitation of the main diversion and lateral canals.

Engr. Ferdinand Indammog, also of KaPIMO, said close supervision and monitoring will be conducted to ensure that contractors are on track on the scope of work.

“Contractors will be warned on every delay. Violators of contract will be blacklisted and cannot bid anymore on UCRIS projects,” Indammog stressed.

Under NIA’s Participatory Irrigation Development Project, P425M was loaned from the World Bank in 2013 for the total rehabilitation of UCRIS and awarded to Markbilt Construction/RD Policarpio and Co. Inc. But it was terminated in 2016 after more than one year delay.

Some P137M was allotted under the National Irrigation Administration’s regular budget for the completion of UCRIS canal rehabilitation which will benefit not only Kalinga farmers but also those from neighboring Isabela towns.