LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – National Irrigation Administration-Cordillera Administrative Region (NIA–CAR) maintains 113, 539 hectares (61%) developed or irrigated, while 71, 867 hectares (39%) underdeveloped. So, CAR has a total of 185,406 hectares for irrigation development. Apayao has the lowest percentage of the area developed, which is 37% only; Abra has the highest rate of the area developed, which is 81%; Kalinga has 69%, Mountain Province has 43%, Ifugao 79%; and Benguet has 64% area developed.
Regional Manager Benito Espique Jr. also gave updates about the Irrigation Systems as of October 15, 2024. He stated that there are four National Irrigation Systems (NIS) in Cordillera which are Abra River Irrigation System (ARIS), which has a service area of 3, 329 hectares, West Apayao Abulug IS (WAAIS) is serving a total of 6,212 hectares comprising Apayao with 2, 240 hectares and their responsibility area of 3, 972 hectares in Pamplona & Abulug Cagayan, Hapid Irrigation System covers 3, 202 hectares, and upper Chico River Irrigation System (UCRIS) is reaching a total service area of 17, 660 hectares covering Kalinga particularly in Tabuk and Pinukpuk with 8, 814 hectares and responsibility area of 8, 846 hectares in Quezon and Mallig, Isabela.
Meanwhile, three NIS are under the responsibility of NIA Region 2 but are in Cordillera. These are East Apayao Abulug IS, Magat River Integrated IS, and the Chico River Pump IS. There are also communal irrigation systems (CIS) that include Abra, having 702 systems; with the lowest number of systems, with 295 systems, Benguet with 645 systems; with 887 systems, Kalinga has the highest number of systems with 1, 230; and Mountain Province with 1, 184.
In addition, the regional manager reported on the status of line projects. First is the Alfonso Lista Pump Irrigation Project at Ifugao, which is now 100% completed. It has a service area of 2 300 hectares, and 1, 315 farmers benefit from it. The second one is the Marimay Small Reservoir Irrigation Project located at Apayao, which is currently 81%, and they are targeting to complete it in May 2025. The third one is the Lower Apayao River Irrigation Project, which is 13% completed, and they are targeting to complete it in December 2027.
For the solar-powered pump irrigation projects, NIA completed 30 pump units in 2023. For this year, they completed 20 pump units, and a massive amount of 102 pump units are still in the process of completion as this project is in demand, which many have requested.
Furthermore, Espique presented the convergence program to different government agencies, including the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), which had an enhanced partnership against hunger and poverty (EPAHP). They collaborated with the Department of Agriculture (DA) as well, and they have several subsidies, such as seed and fertilizer subsidies. The Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) had Tulong Panghanapbuhay sa ating Disadvantaged/Displaced Workers (TUPAD). The Philippine Crop Insurance Corporation (PCIC) had crop insurance, and the Cooperative Development Authority (CDA) worked on coop organization, registration, and training.
NIA also converges with the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) for several trainings, such as training on cakes and pastries. They have also worked with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to construct the irrigation systems. By Joan Dalacan