P7-B irrigation to benefit 12,000 Ecija, Tarlac tillers

GUIMBA, Nueva Ecija – About 12,000 farmers in Tarlac and Nueva Ecija will benefit from the construction of the P7-billion Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project which is now on its second phase of construction, the National Irrigation Administration said Monday.

NIA Administrator Antonio Nangel said that “with the existing 40,000-hectare (ha) area in Phase I, an additional 20,321 ha will be added, totaling 60,321 hectares.

This will allow farmers in a number of areas in Tarlac and Nueva Ecija to enjoy full irrigation services and help the government in achieving its food sufficiency target.

The multi-billion project will provide full irrigation services to an additional 20,321 hectares in the towns of Anao, Ramos, and Victoria in Tarlac and the municipalities of Guimba, Nampicuan, Talugtug, and Cuyapo and Muñoz Science City in Nueva Ecija as well expand coverage of the existing service areas of the Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation System (UPRIIS) by another 40,000 hectares upon its completion in 2016.

Nangel explained that the facility will also increase rice productivity from the current 390,771 metric tons (MT) per year to the target of 599,066 MT with an increment of 208,295 MT.

The Casecnan will also increase the utilization of the yearly stored water in the Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija reservoir for dry season cropping thus increasing its storage efficiency during the wet season and improving its flood control function.

Its Central Operation and Monitoring System and installation of telemetering devices will improve the monitoring and control of water releases from major diversion dams, along major flow points and in the service areas of Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation System (UPRIIS) including the completed Phase 1 area.

Casecnan project is expected to be completed by the year 2016.