Kalinga urges NIA: Fix typhoon-damaged canal

By Peter A. Balocnit

TABUK CITY, Kalinga -- The National Irrigation Administration-Kalinga Irrigation Management Office urged its Central Office to repair fast the Upper Chico River Irrigation System destroyed by Typhoon ‘Ineng’.

Part of the UCRIS destroyed was the waste way at Calanan, this city. NIA opened the waste way to prevent the canal from continuous overflow but the structure gave way and water destroyed the dike of both sides of the waste way creating a wide diversion of about 100 meters.  

 “Initial estimate of its financial requirement is pegged at P100 million, Benito Espique, NIA-KIMO manager said.

NIA deputy administrator for engineering and operations Erdolfo Domingo came last week here to assess extent of damage and instructed the NIA-KIMO to immediately submit the program of work for repair.

According to Espique, they are now preparing the program of work for approval of NIA central office.

With the damage, cropping this wet season will be disrupted because of the repair works to be undertaken, Espique said.