MOUNTAIN PROVINCE. Philippines – A total of 43 irrigation projects for the province this CY 2026 were presented in a ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony on July 8.
The groundbreaking ceremony is led by NIA-CAR Regional Manager Ronilio Cervantes, Congressman Maximo Dalog, Jr. of the Lone District of Mountain Province, Montañosa Federation of Irrigators’ Associations President Ezra Gomez, and other officials.
With a total budget allocation of ₱140 million, these 43 projects in the 10 municipalities of Mountain Province aims to serve a total area of 483 hectares, in which 165 hectares are considered new area.
A total of 1,927 farmers and their families are estimated to use these irrigation projects when completed.
Of these, 19 are new small irrigation projects (SIP), 5 are solar-powered pump irrigation projects, 9 projects are intended for restoration focusing on bringing abandoned or non-operational communal irrigation systems (CIS) back into service, 10 projects are for the repair of existing CIS (fix specific damages within existing CISs to ensure more efficient irrigation delivery.
The 43 projects are distributed across the municipalities as follows: 10 projects in Bauko, 6 in Bontoc, 2 in Barlig, 4 in Besao, 4 in Sagada, 1 jointly covering Sagada and Besao, 5 in Paracelis, 2 in Sadanga, 3 in Natonin, 3 in Sabangan, and 3 in Tadian.
Also leading the ceremonies are Hon. Alfonso Ligos, Jr., president of the Liga ng mga Barangay of Mountain Province, Provincial Governor represented by Provincial Administrator John Likigan, Engr. Abraham Akilit, former regional manager of NIA-CAR, NIA Mountain Province Satellite Office employees led by Provincial Head Winston Daoas, and presidents of various Irrigators’ Associations.
Cong. Dalog said that project implementation is a shared responsibility, with irrigators associations playing an important role in project implementation as they can be stewards and monitors so projects are long-lasting. He also expressed hopes for a national irrigation project through the proposed Upper Butigue Irrigation Project to serve the wide valleys in Paracelis.
Meanwhile, NIA-CAR Regional Manager Cervantes expressed that the groundbreaking aims to inform various stakeholders and the public of the projects, urging also all irrigators associations to become more active partners in monitoring and inspection.
He also informed that after completion, communal and small irrigation projects are turned over to duly formed Irrigators’ Associations for operation and maintenance.
Also, during the ceremony, a total of ₱283,618 operation and maintenance (O&M) subsidies were presented to MOFIA for distribution to various irrigators’ associations in Mountain Province. IAs are encouraged to continue with their O&M activities within their irrigation systems, submit reports and accomplishments to NIA to be able to continually claim their subsidies.
