NIA inaugurates P6.6-M Taisan dam in Minalabac
By Ana-liza Macatangay
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) inaugurated the P6.6-million newly rehabilitated Taisan Communal Irrigation System (CIS) dam located at Barangay Magadap, Minalabac, Camarines Sur on July 29.
NIA Administrator Gen. Ricardo R. Visaya (Ret) led the ribbon-cutting, unveiling of marker and blessing of the dam with Camarines Sur 2nd District Representative Luis Raymund Villafuerte, Minalabac Mayor Christopher Lizardo, NIA Bicol Regional Manager Engr. Freddie Toquero, Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector MGen. Romeo G. Gan (Ret), and other guests.
In his message, Visaya said that the project will help the farmers of Barangay Magadap extend their cropping period to more than two croppings per year.
“Our main objective here is to help the farmers to have three croppings because most of the farmers only have two croppings. If only to provide them the necessary needs, we need to give irrigation system that will operate 24/7 or 365 days in a year, meaning, even on dry season, there is water for the farmers,” he added.
NIA Administrator Gen. Ricardo Visaya delivers his message during the blessing and inauguration of the rehabilitated Taisan Communal Irrigation System (CIS) dam at Minalabac, Camarines Sur. (JRM-PIAV/Camarines Sur)
On his part, Congressman Villafuerte thanked Gen. Visaya and NIA for the development of irrigation systems, stating his full support to the farmers as the principal author of the Free Irrigation Act.
“Ipagpapatuloy ko ang kaugnayan sa NIA. Kung ano pa ang mga kailangan ninyong batas sa Congress, ako po ay nandito para tumulong” (I will closely coordinate with NIA. If you need legislations from the Congress, I am just here to assist you), Villafuerte said.
NIA started the construction of Taisan CIS Dam on May 28, 2020 and it was completed on Oct. 20 of the same year. It has a service area of 350 hectares, which is expected to benefit 165 farmers.
The dam was turned over to the San Jose Magadap Irrigators Association (IA), Inc.
The inaguration of the Taisan CIS Dam was just one of the three projects inaugurated by Visaya on the same day.
The other two projects were the Farmpond and Pump House at Sto. Domingo in the municipality of Calabanga worth P27 million. Work started for the project in October 2019 and it was completed on March 31, 2021.
The other project inaugurated was the Punta Diamante CIS project worth P20 million located at San Agustin, Canaman. It was built on Aug. 14, 2019 and the same was completed on March 31, 2020.
Visaya thanked everyone for their cooperation most especially the local government units for their support in realizing the completion of the projects.
“This August, we will be inaugurating about 35 projects worth P2.7 billion. This only means one thing – “walang pandemya sa NIA, tuloy ang daloy NIA,” (there is no pandemic in NIA, the flow continues in NIA) Visaya concluded. (reports from JRM/PIA5/Camarines Sur)