ARIIP Phase 1 and Sec. Kiko Pangilinan (UNTV News)
QUEZON CITY, Philippines — The National Irrigation Administration or NIA launched on Thursday the Agno River Irrigation System Extension Project or ARISEP in Pangasinan.
This is the second phase of the irrigation project in the province called the Agno River Integrated Irrigation Project or ARIIP.
The ARIIP began in the last few months of former President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo’s administration.
Upon ARISEP’s completion, the production of rice in Pangasinan province is expected to further increase.
NIA Administrator Engr. Florencio Padernal said, “It will increase production. It’s usually single cropping season when the only source of water is rain. But with irrigation facilities, the cropping season will double or triple.”
According to Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization Sec. Francis Pangilinan, “If you were able to harvest twice then your income necessarily will increase. Once the income of farmers increases, their quality of life improves… irrigation is critically needed because you can sow but won’t reap any harvest without water.”
In the first phase, some 20 thousand hectares of land had been irrigated. NIA hopes to irrigate 12,800 hectares more in the municipalities of Natividad, San Nicolas, San Quintin, Sta Maria, Tayug, Balungao, Umingan and Rosales.
Water supply in irrigation canals comes from San Roque Dam that goes through a re-regulating pond.
Pangasinan representative Marlyn Primicias Agabas, says after phase one, they saw that the project can still be extended to other areas in Pangasinan.
The ARISEP has a 2.6 billion peso bugdet. Implementation is being targeted to begin by October or November of this year and is expected to be completed in 2017. (DARLENE BASINGAN / UNTV News)