Bayombong—The provincial government here recently gave funds for the repair of several irrigation projects covered by the National Irrigation Administration’s Balikatan Sagip Patubig Program.
The recipient irrigation projects were the Calitlitan Lower Communal Irrigation System, which received P4.5 million, Paitan Communal Irrigation System (P3.75 million) and the Paoac-Barobbob Communal Irrigation System (P2.25 million).
These projects managed by farmer-irrigators are located in the towns of Aritao and Bayombong, respectively.
Gov. Carlos Padilla said the financial assistance serves as the counterpart of the provincial government in support of the BSPP.
“This is a yearly funding assistance to further improve and develop the irrigation projects which will benefit farmers in the province,” he added.
Padilla added that over the years, farmers continue to contribute to the quality production of rice and corn in the province, which has earned various awards from the Department of Agriculture.
The projects have been programmed by the NIA as among the list of communal irrigation targets for BSPP’s irrigation rehabilitation program.
Earlier, Padilla, NIA provincial irrigation officer Engineer Roland Apaga, and several irrigators associations signed an agreement for the implementation of the BSPP in the province.
The BSPP was launched in 1999 to assist local government units to be financially and technically capable to implement communal irrigation development, thus, effecting the spirit of devolution.
It is jointly undertaken by the DA thru NIA, LGUs, and Irrigators Associations, with the LGUs primarily responsible for the Program.
BSPP covers both the construction and rehabilitation of communal irrigation systems. LGUs that have the technical and management capacities to undertake pre-engineering and construction activities are left to do these.