GMA opens P2.5-billion irrigation project

President Arroyo led the inauguration of the dam and other completed components of the Malitubog-Maridagao irrigation project in North Cotabato.

Agriculture Secretary Leonardo Q. Montemayor said the P2.5-billion project is ready to irrigate an initial area of 3,800 hectares. "Before the end of this year, an additional 2,760 hectares will be irrigated, bringing to 6,580 hectares the total area of farmlands that will be irrigated in Carmen, North Cotabato and Pagalungan and Pagagawan, Maguindanao," Montemayor added.

Funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, the project was started in October 1989. Due to peace and order problems, it was stopped in April 1995 and resumed only in February 2000 when China Electric Power Technology Import & Export Corp. (CETIC) won the international competitive bidding.

NIA Administrator Jesus Emmanuel M. Paras said that after President Arroyo ordered the completion of the dam by September in her State of the Nation Address in July, work at the project site had been almost round the clock. NIA asked CETIC to augment its equipment and men. The latter complied instantly.

Prior to the President’s SONA, the implementation of the project was more than 10 percent delayed. In less than two months, NIA and its contractor were able to make a turnaround.