Arsenio G. Tabanyag, another farmer, highlighted the significant improvement of the irrigation project and their harvests have substantially increased.
“Layo kaayo ang deperensya sa kaniadto ug karun. Kay atong wala pa ang NIA, ang among abot muabot lang ang pinakadako makuha 30 cavans sa one-hectare pero karun kay up-to-date na ang tubig, muabot na usahay sa 80-90 cavans,” he said.
(The difference between before and now is very significant. Before, our yield would only reach a maximum of 30 cavans per hectare, but now, with updated irrigation, it sometimes reaches 80-90 cavans.)
The project not only provided much-needed water but also symbolized a lifeline of prosperity for Lapuyan. Jerry Lingating, president of the Irrigators Association, emphasized the broader impact of NIA’s initiative.
“Hinaut unta nga muabot unta ang Phase III kay daghan pa kaayong patag didto sa unahan nga dili pa matubigan tungod kay wala pay irrigation ug ang kauban namo didto nga basakero maka-avail pud sa patubig. Hinaut pud mi nga matagaan ug maka-avail mi sa laing ahensya bahin anang makinarya ug sa farm-to-market road para sayon [pagdala sa] among produkto paingon didto sa highway,” Lingating said.
(I hope that Phase III will be implemented soon because there are still many flat lands up front still waiting for irrigation. Our fellow farmers in that area also hope to avail themselves of the irrigation. We also hope to be provided with and avail ourselves of machinery and a farm-to-market road by other agencies to easily facilitate the transportation of our products to the highway.)
