IRRIGATION projects听totaling听P46.92 million were recently inaugurated in听Camari帽es听Sur, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) said.听听听

NIA,听in a statement on Monday,听said听it launched听on July 28 to 29 the听following:听P26.16 million Pump House and Farm Pond at Tigman-Hinagyanan-Inarihan River Irrigation System in the town of Calabanga; P14.08 million Punta Diamante Pump Irrigation System in the town of Canaman; and P6.69 million rehabilitated Taisan Communal Irrigation System Dam (Sibagat Small Reservoir Irrigation Project) in the town of Minalabac.听听听听

The irrigation project in Calabanga will听serve听1,363.12 hectares and benefit 2,245 farmers, while the Canaman project will serve 250 hectares听tilled by听122 farmers.听听

The Minalabac project will听benefit听165 farmers听covering听350 hectares of agricultural areas.听听

Meanwhile,听Camari帽es听Sur Rep. Luis Raymund F. Villafuerte, Jr.听asked for听NIA鈥檚 help听on听the completion of the Sustainable Bicol River Irrigation System.听听听听

Mr. Villafuerte said more than 2,000 hectares of agricultural areas will be听covered听by听the project.听听

鈥淐amari帽es Sur is top five among rice producing provinces in the country despite having few irrigation systems since the majority of our lands are rain-fed. If the Sustainable Bicol River Irrigation System is finished, it could push the province into the top three major rice producers,鈥澨齅r. Villafuerte听said.听听听听

For his part, NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya said 153 projects worth P11 billion were inaugurated in the last two months, while around 35 projects amounting to P2.7 billion will be launched this August.听听听听

鈥淣IA continues to develop and construct irrigation systems nationwide amidst the pandemic. The agency remains committed to its mandate of developing and maintaining irrigation systems in support of the agricultural program of the government most especially in this time of pandemic,鈥澨齅r. Visaya said.听鈥斕齊evin听Mikhael听D.听Ochave听听

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