Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala
Three big-ticket projects that would irrigate 100,000 hectares and enable farmers to increase their annual rice production by 800,000 metric tons have been given the go-signal by the Aquino administration.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala on Sunday said the government approved the construction of the three irrigation projects worth P19.7 billion, to be financed largely by foreign institutions such as the Korean Exim Bank.
The government committed to allot P4 billion for the construction of the irrigation systems during the board meeting of the National Economic and Development Authority last week.
The projects, which are expected to increase the yield in key rice-producing regions, are: Jalaur River Multipurpose Irrigation Project-Phase II (JRMIP2) in Iloilo, worth P11.2 billion; Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project-Phase II (CMIPP2) in Nueva Ecija and Tarlac, worth P7 billion; and the Umayam River Irrigation Project (URIP) in Agusan del Sur, worth P1.5 billion.
“Definitely, this is a big push toward our target to provide a sufficient and sustainable rice supply for the entire nation,” Alcala said.
“Further, the three irrigation projects and several others that will be constructed this year and in 2013 will ensure that the Aquino administration will adequately produce the total rice and other staple requirements of the country’s growing population,” the agriculture chief added.
Top importer
The Philippines, which became the world’s top rice importer in 2010, aims to become a self-sufficient rice producer by next year. The agriculture department has dramatically reduced its importation requirements and urged Filipino farmers to increase their yield.
This year, the government is eyeing the importation of 500,000 MT of rice. Of that total, 380,000 MT will be brought in by the private sector. The rest will be purchased by the Philippine government from other countries.
Alcala said the projects, to be completed in five years, would irrigate a total area of 102,890 hectares—36,550 new and 66,340 rehabilitated.
They would also directly benefit 72,900 farm families in Iloilo, Nueva Ecija, Tarlac and Agusan del Sur, whose rice production and income would more than double as they would be able to plant and harvest twice a year.