Alcala set to open Iwahig-Balsahan irrigation project

PUERTO PRINCESA CITY, Palawan, Jan. 13 (PIA) -- Agriculture Secretary Proceso J. Alcala is set to inaugurate on January 17 the Iwahig-Balsahan Irrigation Project, a P34 million restoration project of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) inside the Iwahig Penal Colony this city.

The said project will irrigate about 414 hectares of farmland and assures a year-round supply of water in the entire compound of Iwahig.

The original project, which was designed to irrigate 181 hectares of farmland, could only water 100 hectares due to the deteriorating facilities. That prompted the Bureau of Corrections and the NIA to negotiate and came up with a memorandum of agreement for the project restoration.

From 181 hectares, the irrigation system has been expanded to reach 233 hectares more. It began in July last year and was completed at the end of the year.

The Iwahig Penal Colony is known as the “Prison Without Bars” where inmates are engaged in growing rice, vegetables and fruit trees. The crops produced are used for the consumption of all the inmates and the prison officials as well.

Alcala will also visit the municipality of Aborlan where he will lead the ground breaking ceremony of the P498 million-Small Reservoir Irrigation Project in Sagpangan which will irrigate about 800 to1,000 hectares of farmlands in the area. (LBR/VSM/PIA-Palawan)

by Vicky S. Mendoza