The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) completed the P4.8 million rehabilitation of the damaged irrigation facilities affected by Typhoon Yolanda six years ago in Coron and Busuanga towns, in a bid to support the local rice farmers and improve rice production.
PRO Aileen Vernice Bahia and PRO Daryle Cayao Camara of NIA-Palawan Irrigation Management Office (PIMO) said that their agency funded, under the Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Plan, the repair and rehabilitation of four damaged irrigation infrastructure in two towns which are communal irrigation system (CIS) known as San Nicolas, Borac II, Borac III, and Sto. Nino.
Camara said that Yolanda caused the damage worth P10.5 million in two towns directly affecting some 360 hectares of irrigated riceland and 201 rice farmers.
Part of rehabilitation project is the San Nicolas CIS in Coron, Palawan worth P850,000 completed last year.
Renato Correa, president of San Nicolas Coron Palawan Irrigators Association, Inc., under San Nicolas CIS said the newly-rehabilitated facility benefitting not only his ricefield but to other crops such as fruit trees aa well.
Before Yolanda hit, their facility, San Nicolas CIS can irrigate only 40 hectares but this capacity has increased to 50 hectares after the rehabitation of the irrigation facility.
Camara added that NIA PIMO continously assesses several areas in the province which are potential for irrigation projects to increase rice production and support towards the attainment of ensuring food suffiency.