ILOILO City – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) will proceed with the annual closure of Western Visayas’ nine irrigation systems for two months from March 1 to April 30, a move that could mitigate the adverse effects of the El Niño phenomenon.
The closure is necessary for the maintenance work on irrigation and river systems to proceed, said Danielle Pijuan, public relations officer of NIA Region 6.
The maintenance will ensure that irrigation and river systems are ready to serve farmers from the month of May, marking the start of the wet cropping season (May to October) and continuing through the dry cropping season (November to February), she explained.
“Our core function is to manage irrigation systems for agricultural purposes,” stressed
Pijuan.
The irrigation systems up for temporary closure are the following:
* Aklan-Panakuyan River Irrigation System
* Mambusao River Irrigation System
* Sibalom-San Jose Irrigation System
* Aganan-Santa Barbara River Irrigation System
* Sibalom (Tigbauan) River Irrigation System
* Jalaur-Suage River Irrigation System
* Barotac Viejo River Irrigation System
* Pangiplan River Irrigation System
* Bago River Irrigation System
Farmers are aware of the irrigation system’s annual closure, said Pijuan.
“There is a need to clean our canals, to remove debris to ensure continuous water flow when irrigation resumes in May,” she stressed.
The closure will also prevent water wastage and give rice lands a rest to recover and restore their soils’ nutrients, she added.
Pijuan urged farmers to heed the irrigation closure schedule to avoid risking crop failure.
For those considering a third crop, alternative crops that require less water, such as mung beans and watermelon, are suggested.
With the closure of the irrigation systems, 15 dams serviced by them will also temporarily shut down. These are the following:
* Suague River Irrigation System in Barangay Tolarucan, Mina, Iloilo
* Sta. Barbara Diversion Dam in Barangay Tungay, Santa Barbara, Iloilo
* Aganan River Irrigation System in Barangay Igtambo, San Miguel, Iloilo
* Jalaur River Irrigation System Diversion Dam in Barangay Moroboro, Dingle, Iloilo
* Barotac Viejo River Irrigation System in Barangay Rizal, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo
* Sibalom Diversion Dam in Leon, Iloilo
* Tipuluan Dam in Barangay Cubay, Sibalom, Antique
* Solong Dam in Barangay Solong, Sibalom, Antique
* Nasuli Dam in Barangay Solong, Sibalom, Antique
* Aklan River Irrigation System East in Barangay Sigcay, Banga, Aklan
* Aklan River Irrigation System West in Barangay Kinalangay, Malinao
* Panakuyan River Irrigation System in Barangay Agdungayan, Ibajay, Aklan
* Mambusao River Irrigation System Dam in Barangay Sinondojan, Mambusao, Capiz
* Bago River Irrigation System in Barangay Damsite, Murcia, Negros Occidental
* Pangiplan River Irrigation System Dam in Barangay Cabadiangan, Himamaylan City, Negros Occidental
Will the closure adversely affect domestic water supply?
“We do not regulate or control domestic water supply, which falls under the responsibility of water districts,” said Pijuan./PN
