PGB, NIA distribute irrigation pumps to Bulakenyos
CITY OF MALOLOS – The Provincial Government of Bulacan and National Irrigation Administration distributed 100 irrigation pumps to Irrigators Association in Bulacan at the Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center in this city yesterday.
Gov. Wilhelmino M. Sy-Alvarado said that the pumps will help the Bulakenyo farmers in irrigating their farms while Bustos Dam is under rehabilitation.
“This is our request to NIA and their vow also to provide alternative bilang suporta sa mga magsasaka habang ginagawa ‘yung rubber gates ng Bustos Dam, meron din silang magagamit para sa supplemental irrigation at kapag natapos na ang Bustos Dam mas malaking tulong ito sa hinaharap, mas maraming ani at solusyon sa pagbaha” Alvarado said.
Provincial Agriculture Officer Ma. Gloria SF. Carrillo said that the said donation helped the beneficiaries and the province saved hundreds of pesos because each pump costs almost P100,000.
Eduardo Paraiso, president of the Gintong Nagdasig Irrigators Association of Bulakan, Bulacan, expressed his gratitude to the PGB and NIA for the pumps.
“Malaking bagay sa aming mga magsasaka na magkaroon ng libreng makina para hindi na masyadong namomroblema sa patubig,” Paraiso said.
Meanwhile, Manager Angelito Miguel of the Bulacan-Aurora-Nueva Ecija Irrigation Management Office of NIA said that the rehabilitation of Bustos Rubber Dam has been issued the notice to proceed or NTP last October 7, 2016.
“Consortium ito ng ITP Construction, Inc. and the Guangxi Hydroelectric Construction Bureau (GHCB) at inaasahan na matatapos ito within 455 days o isang taon at tatlong buwan,” Miguel explained.
He also said that the P564 million of the P1 billion rehabilitation project of the 90-year-old dam was allotted to repair the rubber gates that hold back tons of water and the remaining will be used for steel gates, building of canals and pavilion.
The dam can hold 17 million cubic meters of water coming from Angat Dam that helps regulate the flow of water to prevent flooding and flash floods. It also secures the delivery of irrigation to farmers.
Once rehabilitated, the dam will irrigate about 31,485 hectares benefiting more than 23,000 farmers in 16 municipalities of Bulacan and four municipalities in Pampanga.