The P24.47-million worth newly rehabilitated Small Water Impounding Project (SWIP) will serve up to 120 hectares of rice fields in Barangay Bukay Pait, Tantangan, South Cotabato.

On Jan. 23, 2020, Agriculture Secretary William Dar led the ceremonial turnover of the SWIP that will benefit the Bukay Pait Small Water Irrigation Association and its 100 farmer-members.

“Sana mapakinabangan natin ito at makatulong sa pagtaas ng ani at kita ninyong mga magsasaka (Hopefully, this project will be used properly for it to help improve the harvest and income of farmers),” Dar said.

He also advised the farmers to unite and maximize the benefits of the project.

“We are thankful for this project because it will really help increase our production as compared to when we only rely on rainfall,” Bukay Pait Small Water Irrigation Association President Emilio Ignacio said in Ilocano.

Dar also relayed to the farmers the message of President Rodrigo Duterte that the government will do what it can to make their lives better.

The Bukay Pait SWIP was constructed in 1998 when Dar first served as Agri chief under the Estrada Administration, but it became non-operational in early 2000. In 2017, the SWIP rehabilitation was approved and funded by the Department of Agriculture Regional Field Office in Soccsksargen.

The project includes a diversion dam with 876-meter canal lining generating an 18-hectare service area at the upper stream level. The excess water will be impounded to the SWIP in addition to the rainwater harvested by the system. It also has a three-kilometer canal lining and design service area of 74 hectares. If the scheduling of irrigation water usage is properly managed, the Bukay Pait SWIP can serve more than one hundred hectares of rice fields. ### (Gumamela Celes Bejarin, DA-AFID)