MIDSAYAP, Cotabato Province (PIA) — Around 10,000 households in the municipalities of Midsayap and Libungan in Cotabato province are set to benefit from the enhanced potable water supply through the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) first bulk water project.
Recently, the NIA in Region 12 and the Metro Midsayap Water District (MMWD) signed a memorandum of agreement for the former to grant the latter access to the Libungan River Irrigation System (LIBRIS) dam for potable and domestic use.
According to NIA Regional Manager Diosdado Rosales, the project will enable the construction of a bulk water supply facility using the Barongis Dam of the Libungan River Irrigation system.
“The facility will tap into the upstream portion of the Libungan River, passing through a water treatment plant to ensure a stable and clean supply for the municipalities,” he stated.
The NIA also revealed that the MMWD will fund the project, as it will solely concentrate on repurposing water rights. Once the project becomes operational, a consideration of P1 per cubic meter of water drawn will be paid to NIA.
The project will also adopt the Ladderized Irrigation Scheme and the Alternate Wetting and Drying Technology, thus reducing the water diversion requirements.
Rosales said that the pioneering initiative of Administrator Eduardo G. Guillen will also serve as a new revenue stream for NIA, which supports future project and infrastructure development.
“This initiative will also contribute to the sustainable development and well-being of beneficiary communities,” he said. (With reports from CincoM-NIA12)
