GMA turns over P585.7M Carcar irrigation project

President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo has formally turned over the P585.7 million Can-asujan Small Reservoir Irrigation Project to two farmer associations in Carcar town yesterday.

Upon arrival at barangay Can-asujan, some 40 kilometers away south of Cebu City, Arroyo immediately unveiled the project marker and switched on the control panel to release the water from the dam footbridge.

Arroyo turned over the irrigation facilities for rice to Integrated Carcar Rice Irrigators' Association, and the irrigation facilities for vegetable to Carcar United Lowland Farmers Irrigator's Association.

The reservoir provides water to a gravity-fed irrigation service area of about 772 hectares benefiting some 1,370 households in 12 of 15 barangays of the municipality.

The project's primary source of water is the Can-asujan River, with the Pondol River as its supplementary source.

The construction of the dam, funded by the Asian Development Bank and the government, was completed last November under the National Irrigation Administration.

A few minutes prior to the inauguration of the irrigation project in Carcar, Arroyo stayed for about two minutes in Naga town to unveil the marker of the Cebu South Road Improvement Project.

Before she left, the President waved to the crowd and said in a jovial mood, "Nindot na kaayo ang atong kalsada sa Naga."

The completion date of the project, which started on February 10, 2003, was supposed to be last November. But under its new work scheme, the project was set for completion by June, making it still ahead of schedule.

Cebu first district Rep. Eduardo Gullas, who was present during the inauguration, told reporters that the project has slippage problems, one of which was the change in orders.

He said the project would be the main arterial road leading to the south and that it would be useful not only for the people of Cebu but also for those of Bohol and Negros Oriental.

The project has two contract packages. The first involves the improvement and widening of about 11.65 kilometers of existing road from Talisay City to the Naga junction, improvement of the drainage system, and the replacement and widening of three existing bridges. The total contract amounted to P513.289 million.

The second contract package, which amounts to P270 million, consists of the improvement and widening of an existing 18.05-kilometer concrete road from the Naga junction to the Carcar section.

Both loan packages were funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) under the 22nd yen loan package with the Aboitiz Construction Group Inc./Kumagai Gumi (JV) as the contractor.

Arroyo also graced the construction of the first batch of low-cost housing units in San Pio Village, barangay Dumlog, Talisay City.

The 3.3-hectare project was initiated by Bethlehem Day Care Foundation, which is an Australian charitable institution, through its president Fr. Giovanni Iacono.

There will be 360 housing units set for construction in the area which will benefit families living in garbage dumpsites in barangay Bangkal, Lapu-Lapu City, barangay Umapad, Mandaue City and barangay Inayawan, Cebu City. A part of the lot will also be distributed to the fisherfolk and urban poor of Talisay City.

Members of the Cebu News Workers Multi-Purpose Cooperative (Newscoop) will have 40 slots of the project. Other beneficiaries are from the Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation and from the Cebu Archdiocese Prison Apostolate.

To be built with the assistance from Habitat for Humanity Philippines Foundation, Inc., the housing units are payable within 10 to 15 years.

But the amount will only be three-fourth of the entire value as the rest will be paid through "sweat equity," which means that the beneficiaries must assist in building other houses in the community. - Gregg M. Rubio, Cristina C. Birondo and Liv G. Campo