The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) said it has broken ground for the construction of the P775-million Macalelon Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP) that aims to provide irrigation to 830 hectares of farmlands in 12 barangays in Macalelon and Lopez in Quezon province.
The Macalelon SRIP, which is expected to be completed by early 2022, includes the construction of a 22.5-meter high zoned-earthfill embankment dam and its appurtenant structures with active storage capacity of 3.504 million cubic meters.
Upon completion, the project would irrigate 830 hectares of agricultural lands in 12 barangays of Macalelon and Lopez, Quezon, benefiting 700 farmers.
“Macalelon SRIP aims to enhance the agricultural productivity of the Municipality of Macalelon, to create more employment opportunities, and to improve the living environment of the locals,” NIA said on Tuesday.
The Macalelon SRIP would also provide the beneficiaries with incidental benefits, such as flood control, aquaculture, agro-tourism, hydroelectric and solar power generation, and watershed management, NIA added.
“Through the years, we see how irrigation brings significant changes to the lives of Filipino farmers and to the community where they reside,” NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya said.
“Now we also want to see that change here in Macalelon and Santa Elena, and nearby villages. We thank our project-affected families who were supportive and cooperative in order to kick-start this project,” Visaya added.
NIA said the construction of Macalelon SRIP would submerge about 99 hectares of timber/coconut land at the reservoir and dam area, and 75 hectares for canal and appurtenant structures.
NIA added that 87 families residing in two barangays of Macalelon were relocated to a barangay in Lopez, Quezon, as they would be adversely affected by the project.
Visaya led the ground-breaking ceremony last July 29 witnessed by Roger Panganiban, executive assistant to the Municipal Mayor of Macalelon, some national and local government officials, project beneficiaries, project-affected families and NIA employees.