The Municipality of Paoay, Ilocos Norte headed by Mayor Jessie Galano (5th from left) poses with the members of the Regional Project Advisory Board 1 (RPAB 1), after successfully obtaining the RPAB approval for the Rehabilitation of the Paoay Irrigation System. RPAB 1 OKs irrigation and potable water system
The Regional Project Advisory Board 1 (RPAB 1) has approved an irrigation system and a potable water system during its 14th meeting held at the DA-RFO 1 Conference Room on November 6, 2017.
The Municipality of Paoay, Ilocos Norte proposed the Rehabilitation of the Paoay Communal Irrigation System (CIS) to increase the productivity of its farmlands. With a total project cost of Php126,510,518.22, the irrigation system is expected to provide irrigation access to 1,086 households and serve 1,457.61 hectares of farmland. The irrigation system supports the onion (shallot) commodity which is a priority commodity of Region 1.
The Municipality of Paoay is currently implementing another infrastructure subproject under the Philippine Rural Development Project (PRDP) which is the Rehabilitation of the Nalasin-Sungadan Farm to Market Road (FMR). The World Bank visited the FMR subproject during its 4th Implementation Support Mission in Luzon A Cluster. It is when the Bank recommended for the Municipality to propose an irrigation system to maximize the production capacity of its farm lands.
Paoay Mayor Jessie E. Galano, who attended the meeting, shared that the Municipality’s irrigation facility greatly needs rehabilitation. He shared that the irrigation facility has not been used for the past 37 years. According to him, the PRDP is one of a kind opportunity to revive it.
Paoay’s proposed irrigation system is the first CIS to be funded by the PRDP in Region 1.
Meanwhile, the Municipality of Vintar proposed for the Rehabilitation of San Jose Level II Potable Water System (PWS). The PWS costs P4,061,000 and is expected to benefit directly 124 households. Vintar’s proposal is the first PWS to be funded by the PRDP in Region 1.
The Municipality of Vintar is the location of two PRDP-funded solar dryers which were completed and turned over to farmers early 2017. These subprojects are the Construction of Mabanbanag Solar Dryer and the Construction of the Salsalumagui Solar Dryer.
DA RFO 1 Regional Executive Director Lucrecio R. Alviar, Jr., as well as Department of Trade and Industry Regional Director Florante O. Leal, Department of Agrarian Reform Regional Director Virgilio L. Acuña, Regional Agri-Fishery Council Chairman Vincent A. Adorna and the rest of the RPAB representatives, was pleased that local government units (LGUs) have proposed infrastructures other than Farm to Market Roads under the PRDP. The RPAB members strongly endorsed the proposals and even encouraged the Municipalities of Paoay and Vintar to propose more similar subprojects.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) RPAB representative Engineer Vilmaflor Gascon, likewise, committed to aid the LGUs in the design and computation of the infrastructure subproject proposals.
The RPAB-approved subprojects will be subjected to another series of reviews and evaluation by the Luzon A Project Support Office and the National Project Coordination Office (NPCO). After complying with all comments, the subprojects need to obtain No Objection Letters 1 and 2 to be implemented. ### (Dessa U. Estrada and Vida V. Cacal, RPCO 1 InfoACE)
Municipality of Vintar, Ilocos Norte Mayor Larisa Foronda helps explain the benefits of the proposed Potable Water System before the RPAB 1 headed by DA-RFO 1 Dir. Lucrecio R. Alviar, Jr., CESO III.
