LUNA, Apayao – NIA-Apayao has allotted P 9.1 million worth of rehabilitation for Bacut Small Water Impounding System (SWIS) project in Barangay Marcela, Santa Marcela.
A SWIS project is a structure constructed to hold back water and develop a reservoir that will store rainfall and run-off during the rainy season for future use. The strengthening of this program was expected to provide optimum utilization of lakes and reservoirs in the upland areas for agricultural production.
With the project, it is expected that irrigation water shall benefit about 93 hectares of agricultural land and 48 farmers, particularly the Bacicol Farmers Irrigators Association (FIA).
The Bacut SWIS was funded under the Repair Communal Irrigation Systems (CIS) 2024 program which started last March 13, 2024.
This covers the construction of new intake, 3 Canal Structures, repair of 194 meters damaged concrete canal, and extension of 848 meters concrete canal lining.
The construction of new intake will maximize the discharge requirement as the old existing intake is already corroded or having leakages. Repairs on dilapidated concrete canals will also sustain the water discharge requirement for its service area.
Recently, the team of Inspectorate National Irrigation Administration-Irrigation Management Office-Apayao, together with the president of Bacicol FIA and the contractor of the project, conducted site inspection of the on-going Bacut-SWIS.
The physical accomplishment of the project is now at 65%. By Krizza Joy Castillo
