After the Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP) for Aborlan was rebidded last Sept. 2019 due to slippages and the new contractor won in the bidding, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) targeted to finish the project before the end of term of the present administration.
“We want this project to be completed before the end of term of the President (Rodrigo Duterte),” NIA Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations, Engr. C’zar Sulaik announced during the press conference, March 4, at Hotel Centro, Puetor Princesa City.
The Deputy Administrator also said that the chief executive has released an order addressed all agencies of the government to finish all of the projects—be it new or implemented by the last administration.
The said project, originally launched last Jan. 17, 2012 during the Aquino Administration and dubbed as the most expensive irrigation project of NIA in the province of Palawan, will benefit the 425 farmers from the barangays of Isaub, Iraan, and Sagpangan in the Municipality of Aborlan.
“This is the biggest irrigation project in Palawan. Malaki ito kasi reservoir; first in Palawan,” Engr. Sulaik said.
The water supply project is free for the beneficiaries except if the land they cultivate is more than ten hectares.
Sulaik likewise said that apart from the irrigation purposes, the SRIP, according to him can be tapped also for eco-tourism and hydro-electric potentials.
And aside from Ibato and Iraan Rivers as the water sources, the artificial lake will be used also as catchment area during the rainy seasons, according to the Deputy Administrator.
“Kung maoobserbahan ninyo,…mayroon na tayong existing na developed dam sa ibaba kaya lang, pagdating ng ganitong panahon (tag-init), kinukulang po ang ating mga magsasaka ng patubig kaya natin ginagawa ang reservoir type na high dam. Kaya pagdating ng tag-ulan, iimbak dito ‘yung tubig para pagdating ng ganitong panahon, mayroong gagamitin ang ating mga magsasaka sakaling magkulang ang tubig….,” Sulaik said.
“Pag tag-ulan, sobra-sobra ‘yung tubig, umaagos lang sa dagat, hindi natin napi-preserve,” he added.
Engr. Sulaik also explained that as part of their transparency, they conducted the “Pre-Construction Conference” in the Province that supposedly being done only in central office of NIA in mainland Luzon.
He said that the reason of bringing the “Pre-Construction Conference” closer to the place where it is implemented is for the both parties—the government and the new contractor for them to know on what are the necessary measures to be done and what are the parts of the project that area left to be finished. Deputy Administrator added that through the activity, the contractor will pledge its commitment and will share its observations on the issue, so that, as early as possible, they will know the solutions.
The P454 million worth of project was first awarded to Oscar R. Sarmiento Construction, Inc. (ORSCI) but it was terminated last Dec. 5, 2018 due to the company’s more than 15 percent slippages. Then in September last year, the remaining P322 million was rebidded and won by Green Asia Construction and Development Corp.
If implemented properly, the reservoir project should have completed already last June 1, 2017. NIA reported that on July 9, 2017, only 39.84 percent was finished by the former contractor but they assured the public that they fined and blacklisted the erring contractor.
The Small Reservoir Irrigation Project has already an ECC while the Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) from the indigenous peoples will be conducted this month. But the official explained that they have already secured a compromised agreement for the FPIC.
Meanwhile, according to NIA-Palawan Division Manager Condrado Cardenas, in the Province Palawan, they have 87 percent physical accomplishment for the 2019 projects while for 2020 projects, they already have 16 bidded projects and another six projects that are for bidding this coming March 27.
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