CAPIZ – Gov. Fredenil Castro underscored the importance of the proposed construction of the Panay River Basin Integrated Development Project (PRBIDP) to the province’s economy and agriculture sector.
Dubbed as the largest irrigation development project in Western Visayas, the Panay River Basin dam to be constructed in Tapaz town aims to improved irrigation and produce sufficient supply of rice, among others.
Updates on the said project were discussed during the Regional Development Council (RDC) VI meeting presided by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. at Casa Real de Iloilo in Iloilo City on February 13.
Gov. Castro pushed for the project’s construction to begin this year as it is seen as an important solution to the persistent flooding problem in Capiz.
For his part, President Marcos said he is aware of the Panay River Basin Project and even identified it as one of his priorities projects before his term ends.
He wanted to complete the project to address the flooding problem in Capiz.
The President confirmed that its construction would begin in June this year and the national government through the National Administration Irrigation (NIA) would allot P4.5 billion as an initial budget.
The PRBIDP is seen as the largest irrigation development in the region with water source from Panay River. It is projected to provide year-round water irrigation to 26,800 hectares of farmland benefiting 25,046 farmers.
Its areas of coverage are the municipalities of Maayon, Panay, Panit-an, Pontevedra, Roxas City, Cuartero, Dao, Dumalag, Dumarao, Jamindan, Mambusao, Sigma, and Tapaz in Capiz and Bingawan, Lemery and San Rafael in Iloilo Province.
Apart from irrigation benefits, the project shall also augment 18.42 of hydroelectric power and allocate three cubic meters per second bulk water to Roxas city and other municipalities in Capiz.
The general objective of the project is to ensure that the region is rice-self-sufficient and to significantly contribute to the attainment of the country’s rice production target based on the updated Food Staples-Self Roadmap
The specific objectives of the project are the following:
* To allocated three-cubic meter per second of bulk water to Roxas City and other towns of the province
* To significantly reduce flooding or inundation in the province specifically in the sub-basins of the Panay River
* To provide-year-round of supply of water to 26,800 hectares in Capiz and parts of Iloilo Province for around 25,046 farmers.
* To augment 18.42 megawatts of hydroelectric power for the province
The project components:
* Reservoir/high dam – 102 meters; 267.77-million cubic meter capacity and concrete face rock fill
* Afterbay dam – 34 meters; 29.72-million cubic meter capacity; and roller compacted concrete
* Highline canal composed of Panay Right High Line Canal (80 kilometers); Augmentation High Line Canal (24.3 kilometers); and Mambusao High Line Canal (54 kilometers)
* Service Road – 320 kilometers
* Penstock for hydropower – 18.42 megawatts capacity
* Drop off/tapping points for bulk water supply – three-cubic meter per second capacity/PN
