TUGUEGARAO CITY, Philippines- Local officials led the groundbreaking ceremonies of the Chico River Pump Irrigation Project amounting over P2.6 billion at Tuao East, Cagayan on Thursday, August 17.
In a press release from the Cagayan Provincial Information Office (CPIO), the 8,700-hectare electric motor-driven pump will be completed in three years and will benefit 4,350 families.
The irrigation system will get its water straight from Chico River with its location of water source coming from Barangay Katabbogan, Pinukpuk in Kalinga. The project will cover 18 barangays in Tuao and one baragay each for Piat, Cagayan and Pinukpuk.
The groundbreaking ceremony was led by officials of the National Irrigation Administration Region 02 (NIA-RO2), Cagayan Governor Manuel Mamba, and Tuao Vice Mayor William Mamba.
The release said that NIA-RO2 expects an incremental net income of up to P42,273 per hectare a year from farmers’ previous P28,952 per hectare per year income without the irrigation.
Furthermore, NIA said that over 7,580 jobs will be made during the implementation of the project and that 8,700 people will have permanent employment once the system becomes operational.
The CPIO stated that Governor Mamba expressed his gratitude to NIA, saying that the project will greatly benefit not only farmers from the town but also those nearby. Northernforum.net
