DOÑA REMEDIOS TRINIDAD, Bulacan — The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) will finally start the PHP990.37 million reconstruction of the Bulo Dam, which was destroyed by typhoon seven years ago.
“The continued lobbying of Rep. Lorna Silverio of the 3rd District of Bulacan for the funding of the project paid off,” said NIA administrator retired Gen. Ricardo Visaya during the groundbreaking ceremony Monday for the rehabilitation project.
The dam will serve not only as flood control but also as a source of irrigation water for the farmlands in Barangay Kalawakan in this town and Barangay Malibay in San Miguel town.
At least 500 farmers are expected to benefit as the dam will provide irrigation water to 35 hectares of rice land in Barangay Kalawakan in this town and 535 hectares in Barangay Malibay in San Miguel town.
“This will help increase agriculture production for 200 hectares of rice land and 370 hectares for diversified crops during dry season aside from serving as a development site for inland fish culture in the upstream of Bulo Dam that will provide additional employment opportunities to the residents in the said areas,” Visaya said.
With PHP990.37 million budget, the project features 29.05-meter high earthfill storage dam with a crest length of 141 meter and drainage catchment areas of 45 square kilometers.
The main canals are 4.20 kilometers in the north side and six kilometers south side with 13-kilometer lateral canals.
The Bulo Dam was originally constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways as a flood-control project for the downstream Bulo River of San Miguel town.
However, it was destroyed by heavy rains spawned by typhoon Pedring in September 2011. Floodwaters caused the earthen dam to break. (Manny Balbin/PNA)
