More than 12 years after its construction began, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Thursday inaugurated Palawan’s first reservoir-type irrigation system in Aborlan.
Marcos led the inauguration and handover of the Ibato-Iraan Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP) located in Barangay Sagpangan. The overall financial outlay by the government was ₱866,119,293.99, rendering it the most significant project carried out by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Palawan.
The original Notice to Proceed was issued by NIA on April 2, 2014 under the Aquino government. The project continued throughout the Duterte administration and was reported completed in September 2024 under Marcos, but was inaugurated and turned over just Thursday.
The reservoir is intended to ensure a year-round supply of water to 1,072 hectares of agricultural land in Iraan, Isaub, and Sagpangan, with a capacity of 3.013 million cubic meters.
It was given over to the Ibato-Iraan Farmers Irrigators Association Inc. where the system is projected to benefit 425 farmer-members and their families.
President Marcos said the project would put an end to farmers’ dependence on unpredictable rainfall and allow them to plan their cropping seasons with greater confidence.
“We expect an increase in harvest and better quality of products for a higher income for our farmers,” he said.
“More than that, this project also brings peace of mind to farmers with a steady supply of water for a better future to every family who depend on farming,” he added.
Aborlan Mayor Lito Tito thanked President Marcos and NIA for what he described as a one of a kind, or “pambihirang dam” irrigation project.
He said farmers in Sagpangan, Isaub, and Iraan had long struggled with limited water for their farms. The reservoir would provide them with a more dependable irrigation supply.
Tito also said the area could be developed as a tourism destination and support livelihood activities, including raising tilapia and other fish.
“Kami po ay lubos na nagpapasalamat na ang kanilang ginawang ito ay makakatulong ng malaki sa ating bayan ng Aborlan.Gagawin daw nila ito na tourism destination at magkawil-kawil daw dyan… may mga isda, tilapia… parang style po sa ibang lugar katulad sa Baguio para po sa ating turismo,” he said.
The inauguration ended a project history that included a terminated contract, rebidding, right-of-way and indigenous peoples consent issues, missed completion targets, cost increases and questions about structural damage.
NIA initially awarded the project to Oscar R. Sarmiento Construction Inc. for ₱454 million. The contract gave the company 1,195 calendar days to complete the work.
In a 2019 statement, NIA said the project encountered a right-of-way problem because materials from a designated borrow area could not be extracted without securing the free, prior, and informed consent (FPIC) of affected indigenous communities.
The problem contributed to delays and what the agency described as “negative slippages.”
Following an evaluation by NIA technical personnel, then-administrator Ricardo Visaya ordered the contract terminated effective December 5, 2018. NIA conducted an inventory and evaluation in early 2019 to determine how much work remained.
NIA later rebid the unfinished portion, with Green Asia Construction and Development Corp. taking over the remaining earth-fill dam and related structures.
Palawan News reported that the project had an allocation of ₱780 million in 2020. By March 2024, NIA Mimaropa described it as an ₱886-million project.
The amount cited during Thursday’s inauguration, however, was ₱866.12 million. The difference between NIA’s 2024 figure and the final cost announced at the turnover was not explained.
In 2019, NIA said farmers could fully benefit from the irrigation system by January 2020. That target was not met.
The agency later projected completion by the first quarter of 2023. The project was only 85.88% complete as of 2022 and reached 92.32% as of February 15, 2024.
NIA said in March 2024 that it was accelerating work because of the project’s possible contribution to food security and the local economy.
The agency said the system would increase crop yields and farmers’ incomes, improve living conditions, and allow Aborlan farmers to produce more food.
Although the entire reservoir system had yet to be completed then, some farmers had already benefited from an earlier component. In September 2020, a diversion dam under the project was reported to be serving 55 farmers cultivating 70 hectares.
Questions over the project’s structural integrity emerged in 2025, after damage was reported at an outlet structure.
Sangguniang Panlalawigan Board Member Rafael Ortega Jr. questioned NIA officials about the dam’s condition, safety, and cost.
NIA said the damage did not involve the main earth-fill dam. It attributed the problem at the outlet to improper concrete curing after rainfall came before the curing period was completed.
The agency said the damaged section could be repaired for about ₱150,000 once the reservoir’s water level dropped during the dry season. It also rejected claims that the project had cost ₱1.5 billion.
NIA’s descriptions of the project have also changed over the years.
In 2019, the agency said the reservoir would store 2.388 million cubic meters of water and irrigate about 860 hectares in Sagpangan, Ibato, Iraan, and Maligaya.
The completed project is now reported to have a capacity of 3.013 million cubic meters and a service area of 1,072 hectares in Iraan, Isaub, and Sagpangan.
