Led by Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) inaugurated the P990.37-million Bulo Small Reservoir Irrigation Project in Brgy. Kalawakan, Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan on May 20, 2022.
The construction of Bulo Dam started in March 2018 and was completed in March this year. With 314 farmer-beneficiaries, Bulo SRIP will provide irrigation service to 570 hectares of agricultural lands - 35 hectares of farmlands in Barangay Kalawakan in the municipality of Doña Remedios Trinidad and 535 hectares in Barangay Malibay in the municipality of San Miguel.
Bulo Dam will also serve as a flood control structure to prevent flooding in San Miguel town and adjacent municipalities whenever strong typhoons dump heavy rains in Bulacan. The old structure was originally constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways in 1991 as a flood-control project for the downstream Bulo River of San Miguel town. However, it was destroyed by heavy rains spawned by Typhoon Pedring in September 2011. Floodwaters caused the earthen dam to break.
A scenic and fitting venue for recreational activities is also set to be Bulo Dam’s another purpose as the Agency ventures to maximize the utilization of its dams and reservoirs nationwide. Once the water level in Bulo Dam reaches its normal level, NIA will release fingerlings in the reservoir to continuously help the farmers in having extra source of income.
The ribbon cutting and unveiling of marker was initiated by NIA Administrator Visaya along with NIA Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Ralph Lauren A. Du, NIA Region III Manager Josephine B. Salazar, Bulacan 3rd District Representative Lorna Silverio, and 7th Infantry Division Commander MGen Andrew D. Costelo.
Rev. Fr. Derick James Vergara of Brgy. Kalawakan Catholic Mission presided the blessing of the marker, dam structure and the gatekeeper’s quarter.
In the program proper, an audio-visual presentation briefer of the dam was shown. Highlighting the program is the turnover of management of Bulo SRIP from the Regional Office to Bulacan-Aurora-Nueva Ecija (BANE) Irrigation Management Office. From being a small reservoir irrigation project, this now becomes a small reservoir irrigation system.
Also present in the event were Doña Remedios Trinidad Mayor Marita Flores and Malibay-Kalawakan Irrigators Association (IA) President Sotero Sitchon together with his IA members benefitting from the project.
In her message, NIA Region III Manager Salazar said, “Kung matatandaan po natin noong nakaraang April 30, 2018, magkakasama din po tayo dito. Dito po ginanap ‘yung groundbreaking kasama po ‘yung capsule laying ng Bulo. Pagkatapos po ng apat na taon, ipiniprisinta ko po sa inyo ang Bulo Dam, napakaganda pong tignan.”
Closing the inauguration ceremony, Administrator Visaya encouraged the farmer-beneficiaries to take care of the Bulo Dam as he said, “This will really be a big help to our farmers in San Miguel and DRT. Kay Pangulong Sitchon, sana po ay samahan n’yo s’ya, ipagpatuloy po ang ugnayan with our personnel ng NIA dito. Ingatan po natin ito. Alagaan po natin ito para di na maulit ang pagkasira nito.”
Bulo Dam Marker found adjacent the dam’s spillway
The reservoir of Bulo Dam during the day of its inauguration
The control structure of Bulo Dam
Elevated flumes where irigation water would flow from Bulo Dam to farmlands
The gatekeeper’s quarter of the Bulo Dam
Ribbon cutting: From left to right - 7th Infantry Division Commander MGen Andrew D. Costelo, NIA Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Ralph Lauren A. Du, Bulacan 3rd District Representative Lorna Silverio, NIA Region III Manager Josephine B. Salazar, and NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya
Unveiling of Marker: From left to right - NIA Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Ralph Lauren A. Du, NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, Bulacan 3rd District Representative Lorna Silverio, and 7th Infantry Division Commander MGen Andrew D. Costelo
Rev. Fr. Derick James Vergara of Brgy. Kalawakan Catholic Mission leads the blessing of the marker, dam structure and the gatekeeper’s quarter.
From left to right – Malibay-Kalawakan IA President Sotero Sitchon, DRT Mayor Marita Flores, Bulacan 3rd District Representative Lorna Silverio, NIA Region III Manager Josephine B. Salazar, NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, NIA Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Ralph Lauren A. Du, and 7th Infantry Division Commander MGen Andrew D. Costelo
NIA Region III Manager Josephine Salazar
NIA Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Ralph Lauren Du introducing the Guest of Honor and Speaker
NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya delivering his message during the inauguration ceremony
NIA and LGU officials with the benefitting Malibay-Kalawakan IA headed by Mr. Sitchon
NIA and LGU officials with NIA Region III employees
**For questions and/or clarifications, you may contact:
EDEN VICTORIA C. SELVA
Department Manager A
NIA Public Affairs and Information Staff
E-mail: evcselva2000@yahoo.com
Landline: (02) 8921-3741 loc. 113
