TUGUEGARAO CITY, Cagayan (PIA) - - The Chico River Pump Irrigation Project in Tuao, Cagayan is set to be inaugurated soon, National Irrigation Administration (NIA) confirmed. 

Reyvelino Apongol, acting project manager of NIA, said, during the field validation of the Regional Project Monitoring Committee of the Regional Development Council Region 2, the project is now at 85.30% completion rate.

He said the irrigation pump facility was already completed, however, they are still waiting for the dedicated electric power supply to operate the pump engines to jumpstart its full operation.

"The main canals are already completed. Some of the remaining works are on the establishment of lateral canals going to the ricefields of the farmer-beneficiaries," Apongol said.

The project worth P4.49 billion is a legacy of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte under its Build Build Build program for the almost 5,000 farmer-beneficiaries from Tuao and Piat towns of Cagayan, and Pinukpuk of Kalinga.

"There are 8, 700 total hectares of farm lands to be irrigated by this project to include the 1, 170 hecatres in Pinukpuk Kalinga, 7, 150 hectares in Tuao and 380 hectares in Piat, Cagayan," Apongol added. 

NIA is eyeing to inaugurate the project before the end of the term of President Duterte next month. (OTB/PIA Cagayan)