Marcoleta pushes rehab of CL irrigation system
PRO-FARMERS. Sen. Rodante Marcoleta, Floridablanca Mayor Michael Galang, NIA Acting Regional Manager Christian Manalo, and other NIA officials pose with farmers during the senator’s site visit to Caulaman Dam in Barangay Dampe, Floridablanca, Pampanga, on Saturday.
By Joey Pavia
FLORIDABLANCA, Pampanga – Senator Rodante Marcoleta on Saturday inspected dams and irrigation systems in Central Luzon as part of his advocacy to improve farmers’ production and earnings.
Accompanied by National Irrigation Administration (NIA) regional and provincial officials, Marcoleta visited Magsaysay Dam in Barangay Nambalan, Mayantoc, Tarlac; Caulaman Dam in Barangay Dampe, Floridablanca, Pampanga; and a 15HP solar-powered pump project in Barangay Dulong Malabon, Pulilan, Bulacan.
“This is part of our advocacy to help farmers across the country improve their production by establishing reliable irrigation systems. We must produce enough food for the people,” Marcoleta said in the local dialect.
NIA Acting Regional Manager Christian Manalo announced that the agency is allocating P500 million for the rehabilitation of the Porac-Gumain River Irrigation System. He added that the project will start within the year.
“Basically, the rehabilitation project will improve the harnessing of water for farmlands,” Manalo said.
Marcoleta disclosed that more than 16,000 farmers and about 35,000 hectares of farmland will benefit from the NIA projects.
He also interacted with farmers, most of whom were from Pampanga, and assured them of his continued support.
“I was a farmer. My father was a farmer. I understand your plight,” he said in his speech.
At the same event, Marcoleta met with members of irrigators’ associations, who said their production increased with the help of
improved irrigation systems.
Floridablanca Mayor Michael Galang expressed gratitude to the NIA and Marcoleta, saying that more than 3,000 farmers in their town will
benefit from the project.
Floridablanca is one of the major producers of farm products in Pampanga.
