An ongoing irrigation project in Narra, Palawan benefited a total of 1,317 farmers after the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) developed some 3,643 hectares of riceland in a bid to maximize irrigation in the province’s rice granary and boost rice production.
Irrigation Development Officer Ms. Glenda Buenavista, of NIA-Palawan Irrigation Management Office said the irrigation facility in Malatgao, Narra, Palawan benefited 20 irrigators’ associations with 11 irrigation facilities.
The Malatgao River Irrigation System (RIS) attained a physical accomplishment of 90.07%.
Daryle C. Camara senior data encoder and information officer of NIA-PIMO said that they expect to inaugurate the project by July 2019.
“Malaki na ang accomplishments ng project at expected ang inauguration nito is by July 2019,” she said.
This first quarter of 2019, NIA Deputy Administrator Engr. C’zar M. Sulaik together with other personnel from the central office inspected the Malatgao RIS. Other ongoing irrigation projects in Palawan was also inspected.
The inspection and the field work is in line with the NIA Administrator’s Four-Point Agenda about boosting innovation to enhance project implementation by means of studying the overall observations on the field.
During the meeting, Deputy Administrator Engr. Sulaik promised to assist the irrigators associations in Palawan for them to become entrepreneurs. He said that he will prioritized to address the damage flume and canals caused by typhoon Usman in 2018.
NIA Mimaropa Regional Manager Engr. William P. Ragodon credited PIMO for giving an excellent performance in 2018 that made Mimaropa region attained as top two in terms of physical accomplishments of irrigation projects nationwide.
Meanwhile, Division Manager Cardenas, Jr. shared his goal to coordinate with other government agencies for potential micro hydro power plant project especially in the remote areas.