Final 12 months, we went to my brother-in-law’s hometown in Nueva Ecija. We took benefit of the Holy Week break and explored the city as a lot as we will. After dropping off in Gapan, we went to go to some family members in Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija. Right here, we got here throughout an attention-grabbing web site. We handed by way of a slender concrete bridge and noticed a fully-functioning dam, the Peñaranda River Irrigation System. Fortunately, I managed to satisfied my household to test and go to the location earlier than we head again to Gapan.
Irrigation has been practiced within the nations for hundreds of years. It may be traced again in the course of the Spanish occupation when massive estates developed a community of communal irrigation system to assist out farmers. . The Peñaranda Irrigation System within the Philippines stands as a shining instance of how modern irrigation infrastructure can rework arid landscapes into thriving agricultural hubs.
An outdated photograph exhibiting the Penaranda dam. Credit score: Kasaysayang Nueva Ecija
Nueva Ecija is the house of a few of the larger dams or irrigation techniques within the nation. Few of them contains the well-known Pantabangan Dam which is taken into account one of many largest in Southeast Asia and is likely one of the cleanest reservoirs as nicely. It was accomplished in 1974. Only recently, one other dam mission was accomplished, the Higher Tabuating Dam in Common Tinio, Nueva Ecija. The mission was accomplished in 2020, boosting the rice harvest of the province.
Peñaranda River Irrigation System might not be as large because the aforementioned dams however it managed to resist time and nonetheless serves its objective. The Irrigation system is positioned in San Josef, Peñaranda. The development of the dam started in 1925 and was accomplished in 1930, making Peñaranda River Irrigation System not simply one of many oldest but in addition one of many largest dams in Luzon.
The Peñaranda River Irrigation System is supervised and administered by the Nationwide Irrigation Administration -Higher Pampanga River Built-in Irrigation Programs (NIA-UPRIIS), a government-owned and managed company primarily chargeable for irrigation growth and administration in provinces like Pampanga, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, and Tarlac.
The primary supply of provide for PenRIS or the Peñaranda River Irrigation System is in fact the Peñaranda River which might be finest recognized for the Minalungao Nationwide Park. The Peñaranda Irrigation System, positioned within the province of Nueva Ecija, is likely one of the Philippines’ largest and most profitable irrigation initiatives. It was initiated within the late Sixties, in the course of the administration of President Ferdinand Marcos, to deal with the challenges posed by water shortage within the area. The first goals of this mission had been to enhance agricultural productiveness, alleviate poverty, and guarantee meals safety for the nation.
The center of the Peñaranda Irrigation System is its intensive canal community, which spans over 24,000 hectares. This community attracts water from the Pampanga River and redistributes it to the farmlands of Nueva Ecija. As of 2020, the dam remains to be assembly its water provide, serving 15,806 farmer-beneficiaries in three provinces, the Peñaranda Dam caters one metropolis and 6 municipalities, particularly: Gapan Metropolis, Peñaranda, Cabiao and San Isidro in Nueva Ecija, San Miguel and San Ildefonso in Bulacan, and Arayat and Candaba in Pampanga.
Picture: Gandang Nueva Ecija
Except for being a superb assist to farmlands, the Peñaranda River Irrigation System can also be widespread amongst vacationers particularly throughout summer time. Throughout its heyday within the 80s, the location has turn out to be a well-liked place to shoot varied motion pictures.
Right here’s an intimate scene of actor Dante Varona and his main woman within the film Patron (1988) showcasing the fantastic thing about the Peñaranda Dam. There’s additionally a White Fortress Business beginning the younger Lorna Tolentino with the Peñaranda dam on the background.
It’s attention-grabbing to notice that the Peñaranda River Irrigation System went by way of a rehabilitation final 2019. An Eco Park was constructed via the DILG Efficiency Problem Fund (PCF) program. These contains the development of cottages alongside the river, permitting locals to bond with their households whereas having fun with the attractive view of the river.
When the water is just not too excessive, locals used to swim within the river. We managed to see a gaggle of children having fun with the water of Peñaranda. It might not be as stunning as earlier than (like what most individuals describe it) however it’s absolutely value visiting.
In spite of everything, anybody can entry the Eco Park with no cost.
Whereas the Peñaranda Irrigation System has been a exceptional success, it faces ongoing challenges akin to upkeep, siltation, and local weather change impacts. To make sure its continued effectiveness, modernization efforts are wanted, together with the incorporation of good irrigation applied sciences and sustainable water administration practices.
This put up is a part of my Nueva Ecija Escapade collection. Be happy to revisit my earlier entries right here:
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References: UPRIIS / Water, Works and Wages / Inquirer / NIA – UPRIIS /