President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday led the inauguration of the Sulvec Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP) in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte.
The project is seen to benefit more than 1,000 farmers in the area.
“It is indeed a momentous event, for me, as we celebrate yet another triumph in our efforts to elevate the state of agriculture in the country,” the President said in his speech in Pasuquin, Ilocos Norte.
Sulvec SRIP is a medium-scale irrigation development project worth Php940.46 million.
“It is a more than 900-million-peso project. [It] includes the Sulvec Earthfill Dam, which is the first impounding dam to be constructed here in our province,” President Marcos pointed out.
It boasts a capacity of over one million cubic meters, the President added.
Translated into practical terms, the capacity means a generous supply of water that can irrigate more than 700 hectares of agricultural land in 10 barangays of Pasuquin, the President explained.
“Ang proyekto pong ito ay [makapagbibigay] ng patubig sa [higit isang] libong magsasaka sa lugar na ito,” he said.
“Kaya po ang mga magsasaka natin ay [makaaasa] na magiging mas maganda at marami pa ang kanilang aanihin,” he added.
The Chief Executive led the ceremonial opening of the dam’s gate. The opening of the gate will allow water impounded from the earthfill dam to flow into the Siraong Diversion Dam, which will regulate water flow to irrigation canals leading to farmlands.
Aside from storing water for irrigation, two hectares of the dam’s reservoir will be allocated for aquaculture.
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is also planning to develop the Sulvec SRIP to accommodate a hydropower plant and facilities for recreation and tourism.
“The implementation of this endeavor may have been long and laborious, but knowing how many communities will benefit and how much impact it will make on their daily work, it is impossible not to be excited and happy!” the President remarked.
President Marcos acknowledged the engineers, architects, and construction workers “who have relentlessly worked to ensure the integrity of its structure, operation, and maintenance of this program.”
“And perhaps you might think that your tasks in doing this is just another job to meet the needs of your respective families. I have to tell you, it is much more than that,” he said.
The Chief Executive also recognized the perseverance of the officials and staff of NIA that led to the accomplishment of the project.
The President directed NIA to see to it that the operations of the Sulvec SRIP will be “smooth and dependable so that we can keep our word to our citizens.”
“At bilang panghuli, sa ating mga minamahal na magsasaka: Kaagapay ninyo ako at ang buong pamahalaan ng Pilipinas sa pagkamit ng isang masagana at maginhawang bukas,” he said.
Once operational, the Sulvec SRIP will provide year-round irrigation water supply to about 705 hectares of agricultural lands in 10 barangays of Pasuquin in Ilocos Norte.
The irrigation project will further facilitate sustainable development in the area by improving agricultural productivity through the provision and improvement of irrigation and drainage infrastructures, potentially increasing the income and uplifting the standard of living of around 1,045 farmer beneficiaries.
The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) initially dispersed on Friday fingerlings of three species — Carp, Ayungin, and Freshwater Prawn — in the designated reservoir area. PND
