Samar gets P9M for irrigation projects

By NINFA B. QUIRANTE (PIA Samar)
May 8, 2007

CATBALOGAN, Samar  –  Samar province gets a slice of P9M for its irrigation projects from the P1.126B President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo’s Hunger Mitigation Program.

Based on the record of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Samar field office, P3M was given to Danao, Calbayog City and P2M for Mabagdok, Calbayog City in District 1; while in District 2 both Tag-alag and San Roque in Marabut were allotted P2M each.

These irrigation projects have started work and are expected to finish this year 2007, added Oscar Salamida, Provincial irrigation Officer.

A total of 25 hectares will be serviced by the new irrigation project while some 60 hectares of farm area will be taken cared of by a repaired or rehabilitated irrigation project.

In addition to the P9M from the Hunger Mitigation Fund, the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) Agrarian reform Fund (ARF) also funded some P 4.5M irrigation project in Roxas Communal Irrigation Project (CIP), Calbayog City and Calapi Communal Irrigation System (CIS) in Calapi, Motiong.

The renewed funding of the irrigation system is believed to spur the province’ agricultural productivity and increase food production.

In Camoruboan, Jiabong where some 35 farmers are enjoying the fruits of a fully irrigated farm land, rice production has been enormous that farmers here have produced 150 bags of palay per hectare.

In Calbayog City where irrigation projects have also been poured, rice yields have increased.

However a great portion of rice fields in Samar have not yet enjoyed the benefits of irrigation.

In data culled from the NIA website, Samar enjoys but only 31% of its potential irrigable land area. Of the estimated 8,140 ha of irrigable area, only 2,511 have benefited from the communal irrigation system NIA offers.  Some 5,629 ha have yet to be irrigated.