Contractors told: Complete Chico River proj Feb 1, 2020

CITY OF TABUK, Kalinga -- Contractors of the remaining rehabilitation of the Upper Chico River Irrigation System (UCRIS) were ordered to complete the 15 project- packages  on Feb. 1, 2020. 

In a forum held last week at the Kalinga Provincial Irrigation Management Office, division manager engineer Ronilio Cervantes urged contractors to comply with the required working calendar days for farmers to farm within the cropping cycle when the irrigation system resumes operation.

Water cut-off for UCRIS was scheduled from Nov. 15, 2019 to January 31, 2020 to pave way for the remaining rehabilitation of the main diversion and lateral canals.
                Engineer Ferdinand Indammog, also of KaPIMO, said close supervision and monitoring will be conducted to ensure that contractors are on track on the scope of work.

“Contractors will be warned on every delay. Violators of contract will be blacklisted and cannot bid anymore on UCRIS projects,” Indammog said.

Under NIA’s Participatory Irrigation Development Project,P425 million was loaned from the World Bank in 2013 for the total rehabilitation of UCRIS and awarded to Markbilt Construction/RD Policarpio and Co. Inc. 

It was terminated in 2016 after more than one year delay. 

The amount of P137 million was allotted under the National Irrigation Administration’s regular budget for the completion of UCRIS canal rehabilitation which will benefit not only Kalinga farmers but also from neighboring Isabela towns. (JDP/PAB-PIA CAR, Kalinga)