The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has signed five contract agreements with a total project cost of P1.99 billion.
The biggest among these contracts is the P832.97-million Balbalungao earthfill dam in Lupao, Nueva Ecija it signed with P.L. Sebastian Construction, Inc./R.D. Interior Junior Construction.
The project will service 840 hectares of land in the region by utilizing water resources from the Balbalungao river through the construction of a 27-meter-high embankment dam, canal network and appurtenant structures and the rehabilitation of the existing dam of the San Isidro communal irrigation system.
Another contract is the P455.84-million Alfonso Lista pump irrigation project in the province of Ifugao by Tokwing Construction Corp./ASC Construction and Concrete Products (Joint Venture) that will use water sources from the Magat reservoir.
This is expected to irrigate around 2,300 hectares of agricultural lands in the area, benefitting 2,800 farmers and their families.
The P333.37-million Sulvec earthfill dam in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte represented by R.D. Interior Junior Construction will have a service area of 900 hectares to cover nine barangays and benefit 792 farmers and their families.
The P322.83-million contract for the Ibato-Iraan earthfill dam located in Aborlan, Palawan with Green Asia Construction and Development Corp. is envisioned to be the biggest irrigation project in Palawan.
It will benefit 425 farmers and their families. The project will have a reservoir storage capacity of 2.388 million cubic meters to irrigate about 860 hectares of farmlands in four barangays using water from Ibato and Iraan rivers.
Lastly, the P45.5-million contract for heavy equipment from Civic Merchandising Inc. involves the acquisition of eight units of wheeled loader.
