P17M irrigation projects in Panay inaugurated
ROXAS CITY – The Department of Agriculture (DA) regional office turned over irrigation projects amounting to some P17 million in Panay town under the leadership of Mayor Dante Bermejo yesterday morning at Barangay Cogon, Panay, Capiz.
The turn-over ceremony with signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) by and between the municipal government of Panay and end user was attended by DA Regional Director Larry Nacionales, Panay Mayor Dante Bermejo, Vice Gov. Felipe Barredo and City Mayor Vicente Bermejo, all are former Panay mayors, Vice Mayor Gualberto Bernas III, several Sangguniang Bayan members of Panay, Liga President and Cogon Brgy. Captain Joffrey Burgos, five presidents of irrigators system association (ISA) and several others.
Bermejo acknowledged his predecessors, Roxas City Mayor Vicente Bermejo and Vice Gov. Barredo who started the said projects during their stints as mayors of Panay and it was finished during his term as mayor in this municipality.
The Panay mayor said that he offered mass as fulfillment of his promise before the turn-over of the construction and rehabilitation of irrigation projects since he promised to do so once the projects are finished during his term.
According to him, the cost of the irrigation projects was supposed to be in the amount of P25 million but it was reduced into P17,372,275.80.
Of the P17,372,275.80, P3,510,821.85 went to Agbalo ISA covering with 50 hectares; P4,265,095.85, Libada, 150 hectares; P P2,480,281.45, Agbalo II, 80 hectares, P 2,943,094.63, Tico, 150 hectares; and P4,172,122.26, Cogon, 180 hectares.\
Mr. Juanito Hecita, municipal agriculturist, told The News Today (TNT) that the irrigation projects have benefited 466 farmers in Panay with a total of 560 hectares as irrigated.
On his part, Nacionales urged the irrigation beneficiaries to take care and manage the said projects to enhance their farm produce as well as their livelihood.
He added that Panay town has big contribution of palay in the province of Capiz adding that the farmers could sustain it through irrigation facilities.
Meanwhile, Vice Gov Barredo and City Mayor Bermejo in their messages, thanke the DA for giving the projects in Panay where the said projects started during their time.