NIA completes P189-M Palawan irrigation project

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has opened the new P189-million irrigation system in Palawan as part of government’s efforts to cover more agricultural areas nationwide.

NIA recently completed the rehabilitated P189-million Malatgao River Irrigation System project in the municipalities of Narra and Aborlan in Palawan.

NIA administrator Ricardo Visaya also turned over nine units of irrigators association building and two units of combined IA offices and postharvest facilities.

The irrigation system under the national irrigation sector rehabilitation and improvement project is funded through a grant from Japan International Cooperation Agency.

The project is expected to provide irrigation service to 3,014 hectares of agricultural land benefitting 1,585 farmers.

The rehabilitation works of Malatgao irrigation involved three diversion dams, 25.26 kilometers of concrete canal lining, 23.77 kilometers of gravel surfacing, 42 canal structures, one drainage structure, and 55 turnout structures.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Nograles said irrigation is one of the keys in sustaining the momentum in the country’s agricultural growth.

“Improving farmers productivity which will redound to the benefit of both farmers and consumers – as increased productivity translates to lower production cost and greater profits, and lower prices for the consumers,” Nograles said.

“With this project, we hope to boost per hectare productivity by 25 to 50 percent that will benefit 3,000 farmers and their families, and the thousands of Filipinos especially in Palawan who are dependent on rice,” he said.