The Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) has completed more than P5 billion worth of irrigation systems from 1974 to 2010 for farming communities that cannot be served by large-scale irrigation systems.
Based on its cumulative report, the BSWM undertook four types of irrigation systems: Small Water Impounding Projects (SWIPs), Small Diversion Dams (SDDs) Small Farmer Reservoir (SFR) and Shallow Tube Wells (STWs).
“Without the establishment of these irrigation projects by the BSWM, many small farming communities not reached or serviced by national irrigation systems would not have water to grow crops, which could affect national food output and security,” BSWM Executive Director Silvino Tejada said.