TALAKAG, Bukidnon (PIA)--The National Irrigation Administration (NIA)-10 through its Bukidnon Irrigation Management Office, inaugurates the P1.054 billion Talakag Irrigation Project in Talakag, Bukidnon, September 20.

The Talakag Irrigation Project construction was divided into two phases. Phase 1 commenced in 2004 and was completed in 2012. Phase 2 began in 2013 and reached completion in 2022.

The project was specifically designed to provide irrigation to eight barangays within Talakag town. These barangays include Cosina, Cacaon, Dagumbaan, Sto. Niño, Lingi-on, San Antonio, Barangay 5, and San Isidro. The project's design aims to cover approximately 2,700 hectares of land, encompassing both rice fields and high-value crop areas.

NIA Administrator Engr. Eduardo Eddie Guillen led the inauguration wherein he commended the island of Mindanao for its rich land area seldom visited by a typhoon, which makes it an ideal agricultural land. He explained that the agency's focus is on prioritizing irrigation projects in Mindanao, driven by the reasons he mentioned.

Aside from that, Guillen gave a marching order to NIA-10 Acting Regional Manager Engr. Larry C. Franada to search for more areas in Bukidnon to be developed through a proposal of irrigation projects. With the future irrigation facilities to be constructed, the agency aims to add to the food sources of the country.

“Umaasa kami na ang Mindanao, ito po ay magde-deliver o tutulong talaga sa pagbibigay ng food security sa ating bansa (We are hoping that Mindanao will deliver or help provide food security to our country) ,” he said.

Currently, the Talakag Irrigation Project has an operational area of 1,108 hectares, which comprises 50 hectares of rice land and 1,058 hectares of annual crops with five hundred ninety-nine beneficiaries coming from three irrigation associations namely Cabalangasan Irrigators Association, Sto. Dacoca Irrigators Association, and San Isidro Federation of Irrigators Association. (JAKA/PIA10)