Philippines' PHP 1.49-Billion Alfonso Lista Irrigation Project Commences Operation

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 26, the Alfonso Lista Pump Irrigation Project in Ifugao Province, the Philippines, officially held its commissioning ceremony. Implemented by the National Irrigation Administration of the Philippines, the project has a total investment of approximately PHP 1.49 billion, a designed irrigation area of 2,300 hectares, covers 4 villages in Alfonso Lista town, and is expected to benefit 1,315 farmers. Philippine President Marcos attended the commissioning ceremony that day.

The project draws water from the Magat Reservoir and delivers it via pumping facilities to agricultural planting areas on the other side of the river. The main construction contents include water intake facilities, a pumping station, a power substation, an inter-basin water conveyance tunnel, irrigation canals, and access roads. The design conveyance flow announced by the National Irrigation Administration of the Philippines is 4.8 cubic meters per second, with a supporting main canal 12.93 kilometers long and branch canals 19.34 kilometers long, plus 11.73 kilometers of service roads.

The irrigation system serves 4 villages: Santo Domingo, South Namah, Namillangan, and Calupaan. Before project implementation, about 275 hectares of farmland in the area were already irrigated. After the project is fully utilized, the irrigated coverage area is expected to expand to 2,300 hectares and support farmers in growing two rice crops per year.

According to agricultural production estimates published by the Philippine government, after the irrigation system is fully put into use, annual rice output in the service area is expected to increase from 900 tons to 26,000 tons, and the total annual net income of beneficiary farmers is expected to rise from PHP 16 million to PHP 159 million. The above output and income figures are expected indicators after the project is fully utilized.