(Reported by Janet Villarojo of EDCom Bohol) http://edcom.bohol.gov.ph/pdc-approves-pushes-for-nias-2-srips
TUESDAY’S MEETING of the Provincial Development Council (PDC) saw the en masse motion for the approval of the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) proposal for two Small Reservoir Irrigation Projects (SRIPs) in Bohol.
Namely the Bonotbonot SRIP and the Mabini-Cayacay SRIP, respectively, both projects aim to cause a total development of the province’s agricultural economy for the encompassing municipalities and areas covered, improve the farmers’ living conditions, increase employment opportunities in the area and provide a stable rice supply in Bohol and neighboring provinces.
Both SRIPs would be used to support the program of the Department of Agriculture (DA) for the province to be food self-sufficient in the upcoming years and develop additional infrastructures like farm-to-market roads in order to build a closer relationship with the farmers.
On the NIA side, the proposed SRIPs would help develop and maintain irrigation systems in support of the agricultural program of the government and provide an adequate level of irrigation service on a sustainable basis in partnership with the farmers and local government units (LGUs).
Through both SRIPs, Central Visayas and the national government could provide technical assistance to institutions in the development of water resources for irrigation and improve and sustain the operation of NIA as a viable corporation and service-oriented agency.
The Mabini-Cayacay SRIP in Mabini town will have as its water sources the Baujanan and Cawasan Creek covering the barangays of Abaca, San Roque, Aguipo and Canbidian, with a total service area of 530 hectares with 320 farmer beneficiaries.
It would be a zoned earthfill dam type having an ungrated broad-crested weir type spillway with a total storage capacity of 3.82 cubic meters.
As to the Bonotbonot SRIP located in the town of Buenavista, the Maubid River would be its water source covering the barangays of Bonotbonot, Cangawa, Buga-ong, Cantuba, Bato, Sweetland and Lapacan Norte.
It would be covering a service area of 550 hectares with 220 farmer beneficiaries.
Like the Mabini-Cayacay SRIP, it would also be a zoned earthfill dam type but with a spillway called an ungated ogee with a total storage capacity of 7.361 cubic meters.
Implementation period for both projects is up to 2018, with NIA as the implementing agency which would be responsible in the supervision of the construction and overall implementation.
With the effect of climate change on agricultural production particularly on water supply caused by unpredictable rainfall patterns, the SRIP is an adoptive scheme to mitigate the same, which has become a contributory factor that triggered rapid economic development and a span of progress in the province that has become an inspiring stimulus for the Boholanos.
Both projects would be strongly and favorably endorsed by the PDC in the upcoming Regional Development Council (RDC) meeting in Dumaguete in December.