Some 1,200 hectares of rice areas from the eight barangays of Ibajay town, Aklan are expected to benefit from the P65-million irrigation project of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) that was inaugurated last week.
Data from the NIA information office said that the 240-meter long elevated concrete flume runs across Ibajay and Panakuyan Rivers. It will serve about 1,200 hectares covering Brgys. Agdugayan, Unat, Bagacay, Capilijan, Laguinbanwa, Maloco, Batuan and Agbago.
Most of these barangays were once rainfed areas, the information said from NIA revealed.
The project was initiated by Cong. Florencio T. Miraflores of the lone District of Aklan back in 2008. Brgy. Agdugayan is located between two diversion dams, namely, San Jose communal irrigation system (CIS) Diversion Dam and Panakuyan river irrigation system (RIS) Diversion Dam.
The elevated flume was designed as a channel to augment the water supply coming from Ibajay River to Panakuyan River Irrigation System.
"This is another milestone for the agriculture sector and this is one legacy among others, which Cong. Miraflores will leave for the people of Aklan," NIA Acting Regional Manager Edilberto Lomigo said.
JICA To Finance Rehabilitation
of A Fishing Port Complex
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has approved the P1-billion soft loan by the Iloilo Fish Port Complex. It will be used to finance the latter’s rehabilitation and installation of new facilities.
Iloilo Fish Port Complex officer-in-charge Elmer Figuracion said the feasibility study of the project was completed last year and now ready for its implementation in 2013.
According to Figuracion, among the major components of the projects are the installation of solar-powered electricity, fish processing plant, additional brick water, and the rehabilitation of the existing refrigeration plant to suit the needs of local clients.
"The solar-powered electricity is the fish port complex’s response to the high cost of electricity which when addressed will consequently encourage more investors to come in," Figuracion pointed out.
Further, it will encourage those who are in the fishing industry to engage in other fish-value added products for their fish products because the rentals of the facilities would be cheaper as a result of the lower electricity rate.
The fish processing plant will answer the need of the Fish Producers Association in Iloilo whose products are designed mostly for export. Figuracion added that the facility will be built at par with the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point or an acceptable international standard.
The project is expected to be completed in 2016.
Once completed the project is expected to encourage more invest-ments, especially those whose markets are outside the country, aside from their existing clients, Figuracion added. (PNA) /MP
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