LA TRINIDAD—The Cordillera office of the National Irrigation Administration wants hydropower developers to incorporate irrigation in their plans to maximize the use of the rich water resources of the region in spurring the growth of agriculture.
Engineer John Socalo, NIA-CAR regional irrigation manager, said it would benefit the region if hydropower plant developers integrated irrigation components to maximize the water in the river systems to help spur the economic activities in their proposed areas of operation.
“Farmers in the lowlands need abundant water for irrigation, especially during the dry months, so it is best for hydropower developers to maximize the use of their systems for irrigation and the supply of potable water,” Socalo stressed.
The NIA-CAR official cited as one of the best examples the Magat River Irrigation System which supplies power and irrigation to thousands of farmers in various parts of Ifugao and the Cagayan Valley provinces.
Further, Socalo also noted the operation of the one-megawatt mini-hydropower plant near the Upper Chico River Irrigation System canals in Tabuk City, Kalinga which makes use of the water from the irrigation canals to generate power.
By doing so, he explained, hydropower developers will lessen the agency’s obligation to construct irrigation projects for farmers.
Aside from being supplied with water, host communities will get a share of the profits of the power plants.