NEDA board OKs irrigation, bridge projects

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) on Wednesday announced the approval of the implementation of the Ilocos Norte-Ilocos Sur-Abra Irrigation Project (INISAIP) and the Accelerated Bridge Construction Project for Greater Economic Mobility and Calamity Response (ABC Project).

This development followed the 23rd NEDA Board meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday.

President Ferdinand "Bongbong" R. Marcos Jr., who chairs the NEDA Board, ordered the urgent implementation of the P37.5-billion INISAIP project, noting that it was “long overdue” and had been presented for approval in several meetings from 2018 to 2024.

During the board meeting, Marcos said he had been briefed about the project, even during his time as governor of Ilocos Norte.

He then mentioned that the irrigation project would benefit the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, and Abra.

Marcos explained that the previous stumbling block was Abra’s complaint regarding its water source, which would primarily benefit Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, “especially with the construction of a power-generating facility.”

NIA Administrator Eduardo Eddie Guillen assured the NEDA Board that all parties would benefit under the new design of the INISAIP, as the power-generating components would be located in the provinces of Abra and Nueva Era.

The project involves the construction of an earth and rock-fill dam, the Nueva Era afterbay dam, and link canals, which will provide irrigation water to several NIA systems.

Once completed, the project will irrigate 14,672 hectares (wet season) and 13,256 hectares (dry season) of agricultural land, with the Palsiguan River as the main source of irrigation water.

The project, expected to benefit 32,604 families, shall be implemented from 2025 to 2030.

The ABC Project, on the other hand, involves the construction of seven bridges and viaducts to address traffic congestion in priority areas, along with 22 calamity response bridges “to serve as alternate access routes during calamities.”

“Considering that the DPWH has already complied with the instructions of the ICC, I think we can go ahead and move to [approve]. Hearing no objections, the Accelerated Bridge Construction Project for Greater Economic Mobility and Calamity Response is approved,” said Marcos.

The P25.681-billion project will be funded through Official Development Assistance (ODA) and will be implemented from January 2025 to December 2029.

It is expected to restore efficient connectivity, alleviate traffic congestion, create permanent composite bridges, and provide bridges for calamity response in compliance with existing specifications of the Department of Public Works and Highways.