CITY OF MALOLOS, Bulacan — Angat Dam irrigation allocation for irrigated ricelands in Bulacan and parts of Pampanga has already lapsed on Thursday (April 30), however, more or less 5,000 hectares of farmlands still have standing rice crops that need irrigation water.
Bustos Dam, which is managed by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) distributes irrigation water coming from Angat Dam to more or less 25,000 hectares of ricelands in Bulacan and parts of Pampanga.
A Bulacan NIA official, has confirmed in a text message on Saturday that “may 20% pa po na for terminal drainage” that still needs irrigation water.
On the other hand, Bulacan provincial agriculturist Ma. Gloria Carillo, said that as per advisory from NIA, the scheduled irrigation allocation coming from Angat Dam and being distributed by Bustos Dam was until April 30 for this dry season.
She added NIA is still waiting for the approval of its request for the extension of irrigation allocation from Angat Dam.
On the other hand, Enrique Carlos, NIA’s Bulacan irrigation management office manager, has confirmed that around 20 percent of their service areas are still on terminal drainage stage that need irrigation water supply .
Carlos said these irrigated ricelands are located in the towns of Bulakan, Bocaue, Pandi and Bustos in Bulacan and San Luis and Apalit in Pampanga.
So far, Bustos Dam is still releasing irrigation water coming from the local flow from its upstream river system, Carlos noted. (UnliNews Online)
(Source: Ramon Efren Lazaro)
