Water pumps to be installed in Pampanga, Bulacan

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga — The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) will install some P10 million worth of water pumps for irrigation in Pampanga and Bulacan after 1,300 hectares of rice lands in the two provnces were affected by the failure of the Angat Dam to supply enough irrigation water.

The ricelands stopped getting irrigation water supply from the Angat Dam after its water level dropped .80 meters below the critical level of 180 meters. Authorities cut off the release of irrigation water in order not to adversely affect the supply of potable water to Metro Manila.

The Bulacan office of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) said that it was scheduled to cut water supply service for irrigation in the two provinces on April 20 and 30 and May 8.

Palay crops in Bulacan and Pampanga are still in their "booting stage" and would become stunted without irrigation.

DENR regional executive director Regidor De Leon said that Environment Sec. Elisea Gozun worked for the delivery of the water pumps to the two provinces with the help of the Philippine Gaming and Amusement Corp. (Pagcor).

De Leon said that Gozun has already identified the areas where the water pumps will be installed. Some of these areas are in Candaba in Pampanga and in Bocaue, Balagtas, Malolos and Calumpit in Bulacan.