DAVAO CITY—An estimated P2.5 billion worth of irrigation projects was allocated for Davao Region this year (2024).
According to National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Davao Region administrator Jimmy L. Apostol, the budget is spread to 80 projects across the region.
“As of the third quarter, we have already completed 41 projects, achieving almost 80% completion rate,” Apostol reported during the weekly Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas whose recent episode featured the NIA in Davao Region.
Among the big-ticket irrigation projects included; the Manat National Irrigation Project in Montevista, Davao de Oro; And the Upper Saug River Irrigation Project in New Corella, Davao del Norte.
“Once completed, the Manat National Irrigation Project will serve almost a thousand hectares that will benefit more than 600 farmers,” Apostol said.
The Upper Saug River Irrigation Project covering 1,040 hectares is targeted to be completed this year and will benefit 300 farmers.
Other irrigation projects in Davao Region this year included the construction of the protection dike upstream of Batutu Dam, and river dredging along Batutu River located in Montevista, Davao de Oro. There is also the completed rehabilitation of the diversion dam in the Macangao Communal Irrigation System in Lupon, Davao Oriental.
As part of the NIA’s modernization efforts is the dam automation with trash and log collector in Libuganon River Irrigation System, Kapalong, Davao del Norte.
Apostol also highlighted the accomplishments of NIA-XI for 2024. “In terms of the farmers we serve or the farmer-beneficiaries, as of the end of September 2024, NIA Region XI has 39,608 farmer-beneficiaries,” Apostol said.
Of these farmer-beneficiaries they were able to organize 330 irrigators associations.
“For 2024 as of September, NIA XI is able to achieve its targets in terms of actual irrigated area for both 1st and 2nd cropping seasons of this year. That translates to 167.42% of cropping intensity for Davao Region,” Apostol said.
As of December 31, 2023, the status of irrigation development in the region is at 61.32 percent. or a total of 108,869 hectares with irrigation service. These figures already include other government agencies and private irrigation systems.
“The total potential irrigable area of the whole Region XI is 177,547 hectares. That leaves us an area of 68,678 hectares as areas that remain to be developed in the region,” Apostol said.(PIA/RGA)
