CorDisRDS assisted in the implementation of the community irrigation system in Barangay Balangao, Natonin by providing the needed construction materials like HDPE pipes, cable, and cement. This was completed on December 2021 through the practice of angkas. The concerted efforts of the barangay officials and community members throughout the project cycle shows the importance of the irrigation project.
Barangay Balangao is a farming community and they produce their own rice. How-ever, for about 13 years, the rice fields were not cultivated because of the unrepaired irrigation system. According to the beneficiaries, the Lanah River irrigation has been functional since 1998 but was destroyed by typhoon and landslide on 2008. On 2018, Typhoon Rosita brought further damages to the irrigation system. Since then, some of the rice fields were abandoned.
Community members actively contributing to the completion of the irrigation system
With the completed project, the 47 households can now cultivate their abandoned rice fields. They expressed their sincere gratitude on the completion of the project saying “we are so thankful that the irrigation is finally functional at this time of land preparation activities”.
During the baseline survey of the Project INCREASE, the barangay officials requested CorDisRDS for assistance to repair the said irrigation. The request was further validated by the result of the Community Risk Assessment (CRA) as a necessity in food security and disaster preparedness. In response, CorDisRDS sourced out funding for the implemented irrigation system.
Community members helping each other to install water pipes for the irrigation
Before and during the implementation of the project, series of meetings and planning were conducted. These were participated by barangay officials, beneficiaries and CorDisRDS staff. The meetings resulted to the agreement of implementation plan and policy. Likewise, to ensure continuous supply of water for irrigation, both beneficiaries and barangay officials has taken responsibility on the management and maintenance policy of the project.