Tuesday, September 25, 2007

WB to repair upper Chico irrigation system

BAGUIO CITY – In the 70’s, the World Bank was set to fund a controversial multipurpose dam but was fiercely opposed by the tribal communities in Kalinga and Mountain Province.

The Chico River Basin Dam Project was halted after thousands of tribal men and women including the revered Kalinga leader Macli-ing Dulag fought the project then pushed by former strong­man Ferdinand Marcos.

Now, the WB is back with the repair of the Upper Chico River Irrigation System (UCRIS) starting soon with a P507 million loan to the Philippine government.

According to Kalinga Provincial Irrigation Management Office (K-PIMO) OIC Alfredo de Guzman Jr., the signing of the agreement between the WB and the government is expected this last quarter. He said the improvement work will be carried out until 2010, adding that the four-year repair of UCRIS will be jointly implemented by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and K-PIMO.

Of the total project cost, De Guzman said P378.6 million will be spent on civil works where P218.4 million is allotted for the improvement of the canal system; P93.1 million on diversion works; P36.1 M on drainage facilities; P11.7 million on canal service roads; P15.7 million for farm level facilities; and P3.5 million for project facilities. Read more here...

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