RAMON, Isabela-“We have to be thankful for a project that helps a lot in increasing the income of farmers which is our ultimate objective,” said National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator Florencio Padernal during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Magat River Irrigation System (MARIS) dam optimization project here on November 4, 2014. The project is in collaboration with the SN Aboitiz Power-Magat Inc. (SNAP-Magat).
The initiative is seen to increase the storage capacity of the MARIS reservoir by up to eight million cubic meters that will primarily improve the delivery of irrigation water to a larger area of farm lands. NIA-Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-MARIIS) Operations Manager Mariano G. Dancel shared that with the optimization project, irrigating the whole service area of 85,000 hectares would be possible.
NIA Administrator Florencio F. Padernal said the project is a clear manifestation of a real, effective, efficient private-public partnership. “Increasing storage water capacity of the MARIS reservoir is laudable as it denotes water security for peaking hours and saves water in cases of abnormal weather condition or in times of crisis as well as increased power generation,” he added.
SNAP-Magat Executive Director Danny de Guzman, on the other hand, noted that the project is an example of collective work between NIA and SNAP. “These collaborative projects are underpinned by not only technical expertise between NIA and SNAP but also the strength of the partnership that we’ve forged over the past seven years,” he added.
The project will also provide flexibility for power generation. This could potentially add up 7.75 megawatts of additional capacity for the Luzon grid.
The project is seen to start January next year and is expected to be completed in 2016.
(L-R) MARIIS Operations Manager Mariano G. Dancel, Ifugao Governor Dennis Habawel, NIA Administrator Florencio F. Padernal, Ramon Mayor Wilfredo L. Tabag, and Danilo de Guzman, SN Aboitiz Power Executive Director during the ceremonial ground breaking at the project site. Behind them are SNAP executives and Danilo Tumamao, representative of the Governor of Isabela.
The MARIS reservoir is located in the downstream portion of the Magat Dam, one of the largest multipurpose dams in Asia, and is part of the NIA-Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-MARIIS).
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