MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) has finished constructing a ₱30-million small water impounding project in Tabuk City, Kalinga, aimed at bolstering irrigation access for local farmers as the country faces the impacts of the ongoing El Niño phenomenon, which is projected to persist until the first half of 2027.
Located in Barangay Bulo, the Bulo-Magasusu Small Water Impounding Project is designed to benefit 35 farmers managing 85 hectares of agricultural land throughout the dry season.
“This project—one of many the DA had envisioned-would help address one of the biggest uncertainties confronting farmers, particularly those whose livelihoods depend on increasingly unpredictable weather patterns,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a statement.
Laurel called on the local farming community to properly maintain the infrastructure so that future generations can continue to utilize it, reiterating the agency’s commitment to initiatives that increase crop yields, lower operational costs, and boost farmers’ incomes.
The newly completed facility spans an 18-hectare pond area within a 177-hectare watershed. It features a 13-meter-high dam, a 1.75-kilometer irrigation canal, and a 94-meter outlet pipe.
Laurel also expressed gratitude to the Magasuso Small Water Impounding System Association for its vital assistance in completing the project.