Bago city: The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Bago River Irrigation System (BRIS) North District has resumed operations to benefit approximately 6,000 hectares of rice farms in Bago City and Murcia town, Negros Occidental. The reopening, which took place on Tuesday, aims to support rice farmers in the region with enhanced water supply for their crops.
According to Philippines News Agency, Pedro Limpangog, president of the Federation of Irrigators' Association of Central Negros (FIACN) - BRIS, emphasized that the resumption of water delivery is expected to improve farm yields and sustain crop cultivation. The irrigation network will provide a reliable water source, thereby boosting agricultural productivity across the serviced farmlands.
The reopening ceremony, led by Limpangog and other local agricultural stakeholders, marked the end of a one-and-a-half-month closure that started on May 1. This system serves farming communities in portions of Bago City, Murcia, and some rice farms in Bacolod City. The irrigation system is integral to food production and the long-term agricultural development of the region.
The South District dam, which services areas including Bago City, La Carlota City, Pulupandan, Valladolid, and San Enrique, was closed from February 16 to April 30. This annual closure allows for clean-up, desilting, and minor repairs to the irrigation infrastructure. It also facilitates soil resting, pest cycle interruption, and synchronized planting, ensuring efficient water delivery throughout the cropping year.
Edna Se±adoza, Division Manager A of the Negros Occidental Irrigation Management Office, noted that the NIA-NOIMO aims to irrigate around 12,650 hectares in the BRIS service area following the South District reopening on May 1. The BRIS supports 8,014 farmer-beneficiaries, organized into 44 irrigators' associations.
Bago City, located just south of Bacolod City, is recognized as the 'Rice Bowl of Negros Occidental' due to its status as the top rice-producing local government unit, contributing about 30 percent of the province's rice production.
