GMA orders release of P500 M monthly for irrigation projects

President Arroyo has ordered that P500 million be released monthly starting this month until March 2008 for the construction and repair of small irrigation projects to boost agricultural production, Malacañang said yesterday.

Secretary Cerge Remonde, Presidential Management Staff director general and Infrastructure Monitoring Task Force head, said the allocation is part of the P27.5 billion irrigation projects which the government is undertaking this year through 2013.

"Of the amount, P200 million will go to North Luzon Agribusiness Quadrangle (NLAQ), P200 million to Mindanao and P100 million to the rest of the country," he said.

On the other hand, Marcelino Tugaoen, National Irrigation Administration officer-in-charge, said the releases should have begun in September last year, but that the amount was released only last month.

However, a total of P2.626 billion was remitted to the NIA to compensate for the delay, he added.

More than 900 small or "communal irrigation projects" nationwide will be funded by the monthly releases, Tugaoen said.

Remonde said four major irrigation projects account for P21.49 billion and several small irrigation projects cost P6 billion.

"Irrigation allows more intensive farming and multi-cropping, resulting in reduced seasonal harvesting, increased income for farmers, jobs, and ultimately help improve the living standards especially of poor agricultural communities," he said.

"(The irrigation projects) will also ensure food security as they contribute towards maximizing the agribusiness potentials of the country’s super regions, like the NLAQ, Luzon Urban Beltway, Central Philippines and Mindanao."

Remonde said a total increase in rice production by 859,053 metric tons (MT) a year is expected with the completion of the four major irrigation projects and the small irrigation projects.

"The increase in rice production, coupled with efforts to promote farm-to-market access and maintain stable cost of basic goods, could help mitigate hunger," he said. 

Per NIA’s estimate, by 2013, with several irrigation projects completed, the country’s projected 12.5 million MT rice production would have increased to 13.4 million MT.

This projection does not include the small irrigation projects that will be implemented from 2008-2010. 

Based on estimates of the NIA, the government’s four major and several other small irrigation projects nationwide are expected to double farmer incomes from the current average of P24,218 per hectare annually to P53,650.

In particular, the income of farmer beneficiaries will increase by 119 percent or P31,559 per hectare annually, from P26,391 to P57,950; while the income of farmers whose lands are watered by small irrigation projects will increase by 124 percent or P27,306 per hectare per year, from P22,045 to P49,351.

Three of these four major irrigation projects are being implemented in the NLAQ and one in the Mindanao super region.

These are the Agno River Integrated Irrigation Project, the Banaoang Pump Irrigation Project, and the Casecnan Multi-Purpose Irrigation Project in NLAQ, and the Kabulnan Irrigation Project Phase II in Mindanao.  

These irrigation projects are expected to benefit some 92,464 farm families and increase palay production by 552,478 metric tons (MT) per year or 359,111 MT of rice annually.

The Banaoang and the Casecnan projects are slated for completion in 2008. The Agno River and the Kabulnan projects will be completed in 2010 and 2012, respectively.

From September 2006 to August 2007, small irrigation projects will service 122,086 hectares of land nationwide.  

This will benefit 108,439 farm families and increase annual rice production by 499,942 MT. In North Luzon, annual rice production will increase by 250,336 MT, with 61,132 hectares covered. In Mindanao, the expected increase will be by 158,215 MT, with 22,318 hectares covered.

The major irrigation projects are closely being monitored by the Infrastructure Monitoring Task Force and the National Competitiveness Council. The IMTF, in particular, helps facilitate resolution of project implementation issues and keeps the President informed of their status.