By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
With PAGASA warning of extended periods of drought brought about by the El Niño phenomenon, the government continues to find ways to ensure that farmland across the country has stable access to water for irrigation.
In an event on Monday, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the inauguration of the Mabini-Cayacay Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP) that straddles the municipalities of Mabini and Alicia in Bohol.
Spearheaded by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the P833.37 million project is set to benefit 717 farmers and 530 hectares of farmland in Barangays Abaca, San Roque, Aguipo, and Cabidian in Mabini, as well as Barangay Cayacay in Alicia.
The project will serve agricultural areas in Barangays Abaca, San Roque, Aguipo, and Cabidian in Mabini, as well as Barangay Cayacay in Alicia.
According to the NIA, the irrigation system includes a 32.20-meter-high, 210-meter-long dam, an ungated ogee-weir spillway, and an 11.31-kilometer main canal.
The facility draws water from the Baujanan and Cawasan Creeks for distribution to farms within the service area. The reservoir can accommodate 3.82 million cubic meters.
President Marcos Jr. said in his speech, “Dahil sa sapat na suplay ng tubig, inaasahan nating tataas ang ani, lalo na ng palay at mga high-value vegetable crop. Dagdag pa diyan, mula sa dalawang beses sa isang taon na pagtatanim, puwede nang magtanim ang ating mga magsasaka nang three – tatlong planting sa isang taon.”
He went on to report about similar SRIPs in Bohol that are being implemented in bohol, such as the Bonot-Bonot irrigation project in Buenavista (~84% complete), and Hibale irrigation project in Danao (~44% complete), as well as the Molinao Dam Improvement Project in Pilar; the Catungawan irrigation project in Guindulman; and the Mandaug irrigation project in Calape.
The Chief Executive concluded his speech by encouraging farmers to plant high-value crops such as watermelon, ginger, purple yam, peanuts, and eggplant as alternatives to conventional crops to help conserve water and maintain profitability amid the El Niño phenomenon.
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