NIA launches P4.5 billion Chico River irrigation

MANILA, Philippines — State-run National Irrigation Administration (NIA) recently launched the P4.497-billion Chico River pump irrigation project (CRPIP) in Kalinga, benefitting nearly 5,000 farmers.

Inaugurated last June 25, the project aims to provide substantial and timely water supply for irrigation in support to the agricultural development of the government.

The CRPIP includes the construction of pump house, sub-station, transmission line, diversion main canal, lateral canals, appurtenant structures, service/access road, and terminal facilities.

With water source from the Chico River, the project is set to irrigate 8,700 hectares of agricultural land in the province of Cagayan (7,539 hectares in Tuao and Piat) and part of Kalinga (1,170 hectares in Pinukpuk) benefitting 4,992 farmers and their families.

With the partial operation of the project, CRPIP will irrigate 1,000 hectares of agricultural land covering the municipality of Pinukpuk, Kalinga, as well as the barangays of San Luis, Malumin, Malalinta, Bikok, and Angang in Tuao, Cagayan.

Started in 2018, CRPIP is the first project to be undertaken by the Duterte’s administration under its “Build Build Build” Program. It was financed by the People’s Republic of China through the China Export Import Bank.

Meanwhile, the NIA partially turned over the irrigation facilities of P5.4-billion Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project–Phase II (MMIP-II) in North Cotabato to NIA Region XII on June 23.

The newly turned-over facilities are expected to benefit more than 1,000 farmers in the municipality of Pikit, North Cotabato irrigating 1,642 hectares of farmlands.

MMIP II’s major components include 59.09 kilometers main canal, 81.91 kilometers lateral earth canal, 823 units of appurtenant structures, and 361 units on farm level structures.

Once fully completed, this will divert irrigation water from Maridagao River utilizing the facilities of MMIP I with the goal of providing efficient, reliable, and sustainable irrigation service to 9,528 hectares of agricultural land in the municipalities of Aleosan and Pikit in Cotabato and Pagalungan and Datu Montawal in Maguindanao.

The MMIP-II is also included on the 119 infrastructure flagship projects under the Build, Build, Build program of the national government that supports agriculture and food security.

NIA, as the lead government agency responsible in developing all possible sources of water for irrigation, now serves as the country’s driving force to move forward to agricultural productivity, economic growth, and food sufficiency.