La Trinidad, Benguet—Farmers of Sitio Obullan, Brgy. Pico of this town are now enjoying gardening with the availability of irrigation water brought about by the completion of Bayabas Pump Irrigation Project (PIP) this April.
The project has an area of five hectares with 15 farmer-beneficiaries. The irrigated area is currently being cultivated for cabbage while tie wires are already set up as trellis for newly planted sayote.
The Bayabas PIP installed a submersible pump at the Bodikewkew Spring, Kapjaran, Pico. The pump has Total Dynamic Head (TDH) of 150 meters, and irrigation water was able to reach Sitio Obullan situated above Km. 4 (close to Piripin Bato).
Mr. Arthur Shontogan, president of the Peril Obudan Capjaran Farmers Association Inc., said that with the completion of the project, he and his fellow farmers in the nearby area were encouraged to start cultivating their vacant lots.
According to Shontogan, some of the existing tanks were privately constructed in 1995 but were not fully utilized due to lack of some facilities, such as dependable pump. With the completion of the project, their existing tanks are now being utilized.
Engr. Godofredo Velaque, provincial head of NIA-Benguet Satellite Office, shared that consultation with the La Trinidad Water District (LTWD) was done to come up with the best mechanism on the implementation of the project.
Photo Caption 1: Irrigation water was able to reach the service area located at Sitio Obullan (above Km. 4) in Brgy. Pico, which is now being cultivated for high value crops such as cabbage and sayote.
Photo Caption 2: Engr. Godofredo Velaque, provincial head of NIA-Benguet Satellite Office, together with Engr. Freddie Cayatoc, project-in-charge, inspects the newly installed submersible pump with a total dynamic head of 150 meters at the Bodikewkew Spring, Kapjaran, Pico, La Trinidad, Benguet which is part of the Bayabas Pump Irrigation Project (PIP).