The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, chaired by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., approved 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).

In the 23rd NEDA Board meeting in Malacañang on Tuesday, President Marcos said the PhP37.5-billion INISAIP project must be implemented with urgency. The President noted the project is long overdue and has been presented for approval in several meetings from 2018 to 2024.

“So, the Ilocos Norte-Ilocos Sur-Abra Irrigation Project is approved by the NEDA Board,” President Marcos said during the NEDA Board meeting shortly after the presentation of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) on the project.

According to the President, he has been briefed about the project even during his stint as governor of Ilocos Norte. Citing its irrigation aspect, he said the project will benefit the provinces of Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur and Abra.

President Marcos raised the hydroelectrical power component of the project. He said the previous stumbling block was Abra’s complaint regarding its water source that would only benefit Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur, especially with the construction of a power-generating facility.

NIA Administrator Eduardo Eddie Guillen told the NEDA Board that all parties will benefit under the new design of the INISAIP, in which the power generating components will be put up in the provinces of Abra and in Nueva Era.

“Kailangan kasama na sa design iyon. Kahit na hindi sa costing, basta kasama na sa design. Hindi naman natin puwedeng gawin lahat ito tapos lalagyan natin ng hydroelectric afterwards. Kailangan kasama sa umpisa. ‘Pag nagpatayo ng dam nandoon na,” President Marcos explained on the power plant’s location.

The locally financed project involves the construction of an earth and rockfill dam; Nueva Era afterbay dam; and link canals, which will provide irrigation water to several NIA systems.

Once completed, it will irrigate 14,672 hectares (wet season) and 13,256 ha. (dry season) of agricultural lands with the Palsiguan River as the main source of irrigation water. The project implementation period is from 2025 to 2030. It’s expected to benefit 32,604 families.

On the other hand, the ABC Project involves the construction of seven bridges and viaducts to address traffic congestion along priority identified areas and 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,” President Marcos said.

The project will be funded by the Official Development Assistance (ODA). It will be implemented from January 2025 to December 2029. It has a total cost of PhP25.681 billion.

The project will restore efficient connectivity, construct bridges that can alleviate traffic congestion, create permanent composite bridges, and provide bridges for calamity response in compliance with existing DPWH specifications. | PND