Davao de oro: Farmers in Davao de Oro province can expect higher yields after the National Irrigation Administration-Davao (NIA-11) announced Monday the turnover of various irrigation support projects worth more than PHP45 million in the area last week.

According to Philippines News Agency, the Awao Communal Irrigators Association (ACIA), Inc. in Monkayo, one of the beneficiaries, received the Awao Communal Irrigation System (CIS)-Solar Irrigation Project during a turnover ceremony on July 18. Funded through the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program-Irrigation Component (CARP-IC), the PHP17.7-million project aims to irrigate 20 hectares of land, directly benefiting 29 farmers.

Melner Lapidez, ACIA president, thanked the government for the project, highlighting that their barangay is among the farthest in the province. 'We felt that the government really supported us because we are from a far-flung area, but we are still given this project,' he said in the same NIA statement.

Also on July 18, NIA-11, through its Davao de Oro Irrigation Management Office (IMO), turned over the Bongloy Communal Irrigation Project (CIP) to 29 local farmer-beneficiaries in Barangay Pagsabangan, New Bataan, Davao de Oro. 'The project brings long-awaited irrigation support to the farmer-beneficiaries, including 36 Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries (ARBs), under the care of the Bongloy CARP Irrigators' Association (BCIA), Inc.,' NIA-11 said.

With a total civil works cost of PHP28.15 million, this project was funded by the CARP-IC for calendar year 2023 and carried out through contract works. The farmer-beneficiaries, led by IA president Iancel Barez, expressed their gratitude, noting that the project will significantly boost their agricultural productivity and improve their livelihood. "We assure you that we will take care of and protect it so that the next generation will benefit from this,' Barez said.