BY GILBERT P. BAYORAN
An irrigation project and farm machinery and equipment worth more than P21 million worth were turned over yesterday by Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson to farmer associations in Brgy. Minapasok, Calatrava, Negros Occidental.
The project beneficiaries are the SPUR 2 Irrigators Association of Minapasuk, Calatrava and Pakigdaet sa Kalambo-an of Bug-ang, Toboso.
The SPUR 2 Magtuod Irrigation Project cost P19.9 million, while the rice mill shed, multi-purpose drying pavement, walk-behind rice transplanter, mechanical reaper, and floating tiller cost P1.7 million, which were implemented through the Office of the Provincial Agriculture.
The Himoga-an River is the water source for the irrigation project, with a potential service area of 200 hectares.
Lacson advised the members of the irrigators association to manage and use the project efficiently, and to maintain a good water management system.
He also pledged more development projects in Calatrava which will benefit more communities.
Negros Occidental Board Member Araceli Somosa said that programs on Food Security and Agricultural Productivity is a priority of the provincial government.
Brig. Gen. Inocencio Pasaporte, 303rd Infantry Brigade commander, former Toboso Mayor Richard Jaojoco, and representatives from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) also witnessed the turnover rites.*
