TACLOBAN CITY: The PHP1-billion Hibulangan Small Reservoir Irrigation Project in Villaba, Leyte, is scheduled to become operational in 2025, marking the end of a construction period that has spanned more than a decade, according to the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).
According to Philippines News Agency, Conrado Samson, manager of the NIA Leyte and Biliran irrigation management office, announced during the Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas press briefing that the project is in its final stages before its anticipated inauguration next year. Samson noted that project completion is contingent on favorable weather conditions and obtaining clearance for plugging, which affects soil water retention and drainage. Samson also mentioned preparations are underway to ready farmers for the project’s full operation.
The construction, which began in 2013, faced delays due to adverse weather conditions, fund shortages, and disruptions from Super Typhoon Yolanda and the Covid-19 pandemic. The project includes a 35.5-me
ter earth-filled dam with a capacity of approximately 10.8 million cubic meters, intended to irrigate 2,750 hectares of rice farms in Leyte’s rice-producing towns of Villaba, Matagob, and Matalom.
Located in Sulpa village, Villaba, the reservoir will distribute water through a network of irrigation canals to several villages within the town. Service roads have been constructed along the canal banks. The project is part of the Regional Development Plan, aimed at supporting economic growth in the region.