By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
In the 23rd National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board meeting held in Malacañang on Tuesday (Dec. 17), President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. approved the implementation of the P37.5-billion Ilocos Norte – Ilocos Sur – Abra Irrigation Project (INISAIP) and the Accelerated Bridge Construction Project for Greater Economic Mobility and Calamity Response (ABC Project).
President Marcos noted that the INISAIP is long overdue and has been presented for approval in several meetings from 2018 to 2024, as he emphasized its urgency during the NEDA Board meeting which came after the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) presentation of said project on Tuesday morning.
The Chief Executive stressed that NIA’s proposed irrigation project dates back to his tenure as governor of Ilocos Norte. Once completed, it will also benefit the adjacent provinces of Ilocos Sur and Abra.
However, Marcos raised concerns about the hydroelectric power component of the project, stating that the previous stumbling block was Abra’s complaint regarding its water source that would only benefit Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, especially with the construction of a power-generating facility.
NIA Administrator Eduardo Guillen clarified to the NEDA Board that all parties will benefit under the new design of the INISAIP, whose powr-generating components will be put up in the province of Abra and in the municipality of Nueva Era, Ilocos Norte.
“Kailangan kasama na sa design iyon. Kahit na hindi sa costing, basta kasama na sa design. Hindi naman natin puwedeng gawin lahat ito tapos lalagyan natin ng hydroelectric [facility] afterwards. Kailangan kasama sa umpisa. ’Pag nagpatayo ng dam, nandoon na [ang hydroelectric facility],” President Marcos explained on the power plant’s location.
The locally financed project involves the construction of an earth and rockfill dam, the Nueva Era afterbay dam, and link canals that can provide irrigation water to several NIA systems.
Once completed, it will irrigate 14,672 hectares (wet season) and 13,256 ha. (dry season) of agricultural lands with the Palsiguan River as the main source of irrigation water. The project implementation period is from 2025 to 2030. The project is expected to benefit 32,604 families.
Meanwhile, the ABC Project involves the construction of seven bridges and viaducts to address traffic congestion along identified priority areas and 22 calamity response bridges to serve as alternative access routes during calamities.
“Considering that the DPWH has already complied with the instructions of the ICC. I think we can go ahead and move to [approve]. Hearing no objections, the Accelerated Bridge Construction Project for Greater Economic Mobility and Calamity Response is approved,” the Chief Executive declared.
The P25.68 billion project will be funded by the Official Development Assistance (ODA) and will be implemented from January 2025 to December 2029.
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