The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) inaugurated and turned over 21 irrigation projects with an aggregate cost of P1.17 billion to farmers and irrigators associations in Mimaropa last week.
NIA said a total of 6,795.50 hectares of agricultural land tended by 1,784 farmers and their families will gain access to reliable and sustainable irrigation services.
The biggest project is the P890 million Bongabong river irrigation project (RIP) which is set to irrigate 6,000 hectares of farmland and benefit about 3,000 farmers in the municipalities of Bongabong, Roxas and Mansalay in Oriental Mindoro.
The project includes a 5,500-cubic meters design flood intake structure with over 41 kilometers of main canal and 45 kilometers of lateral canals with irrigation structures and facilities.
Other NIA projects in Mimaropa are 13 communal irrigations worth P204 million which will irrigate 676 hectares of farmland in Oriental Mindoro, Marinduque and Romblon to benefit 379 farmers.
Five irrigation projects are in Occidental Mindoro valued at P59 million will serve 192.50 hectares in the municipalities of Sta. Cruz, Magsaysay and Sablayan and will benefit 129 farmers. Two projects with a total cost of P20 million will irrigate 68 hectares and benefit 26 farmers in the municipalities of Rizal and El Nido. – Jed Macapagal
