National Irrigation Adinistration (NIA) officer-in-charge Engr. Diosdado Rosales has cited benefits that may be derived from the multi-purpose Bohol Irrigation Project Phase 3 to be situated in four towns of the second district as pursued by Rep. Erico B. Aumentado. Rosales, in an interview, said that “mega” project also dubbed “Northeastern Basin Multi-purpose Dam Project” (NBMDP) is beneficial to the farmers who still rely on rain-fed farming. He asked for support from all stakeholders, including the farmers. He said he already presented this proposal to the farmers who may avail of this irrigation facility aimed at increasing the rice harvest. 

Aumentado said that his pet proposed project has already got the nod of the Provincial Development Council and the Regional Development Council chaired by Gov. Edgar Chatto and Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, respectively. The project, if implemented and completed soon, can irrigate some 19,000 hectares of rice fields in the towns of Danao, San Miguel, Trinidad, Dagohoy, Bien Unido and Ubay, the hometown of Aumentado. Reports have it that the multi-billion project has also got the green light from the NEDA ICC endorsement with the promise of funding courtesy of the Official Development Assistance (ODA) courtesy of the Korea International cooperation Agency (KOICA). Aside from the irrigation benefits, the project is expected to also generate 10 megawatts of hydroelectric power and water supply for the three towns of Dagohoy, Danao and San Miguel, and it can serve a come-on as a agri-tourism come-on in this part of the province, the congressman said. Bohol is hosting three mega dams --- Malinao Dam in Pilar town, Capayas Dam in Ubay and Bayongan Dam in San Miguel ---- being pursued by the NIA, said Rosales. (SEN GUINGGUING)