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NIA CAR – Under the leadership of Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, the National Irrigation Administration – Cordillera Administrative Region (NIA-CAR) inaugurated P70-million worth of newly completed diversion dam structures of the Hapid Irrigation System (Hapid IS) located in the Municipality of Lamut, Ifugao on October 01, 2020.

The inauguration ceremony was led by Hon. Solomon Chungalao, Representative of the Lone District of Ifugao, Provincial Governor Jerry Dalipog, NIA-CAR Regional Manager Benito Espique, Jr., and NIA Ifugao Satellite Office Head Patrick Resurreccion. The event was witnessed by other local officials, regional heads of other agencies, NIA employees, and farmer-beneficiaries.

Hapid IS used to have a gravity intake-type diversion dam which draws irrigation water from the Ibulao River. With the completion of the diversion dam on May 08, 2020, irrigation service delivery is more reliable and efficient. The project covers 11 barangays of Lamut, Ifugao, benefitting 1,500 farmers and their families. To date, the irrigated area of the system is pegged at 1,040 hectares which is the targeted area for this wet cropping season.

Engr. Patrick Resurreccion said that the irrigated area can still increase because water is more sufficient with the completion of the diversion dam.

NIA CAR – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) recently turned over the completed P1.78-million Romualdez Solar Pump Irrigation Project (Romualdez SPIP) to Sitio Aba Irrigators Association for operation and maintenance on September 04, 2020 in the Municipality of Rizal, Kalinga.

Funded under NIA’s Establishment of Groundwater Pump Irrigation Project (EGPIP) CY 2020 allocation, Romualdez SPIP will irrigate six hectares of agricultural land in the municipality, benefitting 15 farmers and their families. The project is powered by 30 solar panels and installed with a 7.5-horsepower submersible pump lowered to a depth of 52 meters.

Engr. Ronilio Cervantes, Head of NIA-Kalinga Irrigation Management Office, stated that with nine to 10-hour operation in a day, the solar pump has a minimum discharge of 200,000 liters per day, where more sun equates more water. Similarly, two units of reservoir tanks were constructed to store water from the solar pump.

“The project uses the power of the sun to move water, without the need for grid power or diesel, which can equate to P270,000.00 in annual savings at P75.00 per hour in electricity bills”, said Engr. Cervantes.

Mr. Antonio Santiago, President of Sitio Aba Irrigators Association, said that they can now cultivate their lands for rice and some high value crops for two cropping seasons per year because of the Romualdez Solar Pump.