The Balbalungao SRIP. Contributed photo
CABANATUAN CITY – The construction of the P1.34-billion vital agriculture infrastructure that aims to increase rice productivity in Lupao, Nueva Ecija has reached an actual accomplishment of 46.69 percent at the end of first quarter of 2021, or 35.89 percent ahead of its 10.80 percent on the bar schedule amid the pandemic, the National Irrigation Administration reported on Sunday.
Engr. Rosalinda Bote, department manager of the NIA-Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation System said the construction of Balbalungao Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP) is now entering the “critical curve stage”, such as installation of steel forms and concrete pouring at spillway structure, water pressure test, drilling and grouting at the dam core trench.
It also includes laying of gravel blanket and boulder riprap at permanent cofferdam, excavation works at diversion conduit, fabrication and installation of conduit pipes, and construction of rock toe, she added.
Implemented by NIA-UPRIIS Division I, Balbalungao SRIP which an earthfill dam is one of the lined projects that aims to boost the campaign for rice competitiveness and increase income of local farmers of NIA under administrator Ricardo Visaya, said Bote.
Expected to be completed by November 2023, Balbalungao SRIP was designed to provide irrigation to 967.19 hectares in the villages of Balbalungao, San Isidro, Salvacion, Sto. Nino, and Mapampang. At its current stage, however, the dam already irrigates 370 hectares of farmlands in San Isidro and Balbalungao, the NIA-UPRIIS reported.
Parallel to the dam construction is the development of a 60-hectare watershed area within the reservoir that is programmed for rehabilitation out of the total 998-hectare watershed, according to division manager Felix Teano, Jr.
The watershed management is a joint effort of the Inter-Agency Watershed Management Plan–Technical Working Group composed of NIA personnel and staff from different government agencies, local government units, and other stakeholders.
This is in line with the objective of the agency to develop and maintain irrigation systems in support ofthe agricultural program of the government.
