The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Palawan Division assured that Aborlan farmers may fully benefit in their Ibato-Iraan irrigation project by January 2020, onced finished.
Engr. Conrado Cardenas Jr. NIA Palawan Division Manager, in a recent press conference, said that the delayed project of the reservoir with a remaining fund of P326 million will be listed again for bidding this October.
“Ang natitira nalang na project na for bidding this month ay itong reservoir amounting into P325 million and the project is up for bidding this October, ” Cardenas said.
Presently, based on project inspections conducted by engineers and personnel of NIA local division office, Cardenas said that the irrigation project development is now at its 70% completion, given that the two irrigation mega-dam systems has already been initially finished and is now being used by local farmers from four barangays in Aborlan, Palawan.
Ibato-Iraan Small Reservoir Irrigation Project was originally awarded to contractor Oscar Sarmiento of ORSCI on 2014. The P454 million irrigation project, which has a total cost of P780 million, was awarded by NIA Central Office with a contract duration if 1,195 calendar days.
However, Cardenas said that Sarmiento failed to meet the project schedule due to problems regarding the lack of equipment and man power, and shortage of the aggregates source was cited as contributing reason why the project was delayed and later on terminated by NIA Administrator Ricardo Visaya on December 5, 2018.
“Nag-pending ang project kasi based sa aming monitoring lack of manpower and equipment pati resources, ” Cardenas said.
NIA blacklisted ORSCI for failing to meet the scheduled construction duration and subjected the latter for liquidated damages which they need to settle.
In the midst of controversies arousing on the delay of the project, PTK Group Inc., a local construction firm partly-owned by Palawan Councilor’s League President Clarito “Prince” Demaala IV, published a press release stressing that the only participation their company undertook was the renting out of the equipment to ORSCI. And that Demaala was exercising his rights as a private citizen back then.
Meanwhile, Cardenas noted that their office will stress all resources needed to ensure monitoring and inspection once the irrigation project will resume its construction.