THE NATIONAL Irrigation Administration XI (NIA) earmarked P2.549 billion for 80 new, ongoing, projects and subprojects in Davao Region for 2024.
Out of the 80 projects, 41 projects have been completed while 39 are still ongoing as of October 2024. The agency attained almost an 80% completion rate (actual) and hoped to finish the projects by the first quarter of 2025.
NIA XI regional manager Engr. Jimmy Apostol reassured that the implemented projects will feature an improved design to be more sustainable and resilient against floods, typhoons, or earthquakes.
Among the ongoing projects, NIA XI has two big-ticket projects such as the Manat National Irrigation project located in Montevista, Davao de Oro, and the Upper Saug River Irrigation project at New Correla, Davao del Norte.
Manat National Irrigation project has a service area of 998.47 hectares benefiting 633 farmers costing P709,903,000 million with an implementation period from 2020 to 2025.
The upper Saug River Irrigation project, on the other hand, has 1,040 hectares with 310 farmer beneficiaries with a project cost of P712,000,000 million, and a target completion date by this year.
Other ongoing projects for Region 11 include the construction of the protection dike and river dredging in Montevista, a protection dike in New Bataan, canal lining in Cateel, slope protection works in Asuncion, and many other irrigation projects.
Photo by Bing Gonzales
