Location
Philippines
Client
Asian Development Bank loan to the National Irrigation Administration, Department of Agriculture
Sector
Community & Rural Growth
Associated Firm
Binnie, Black and Vetch (International) Ltd; PRIMEX; Sustainable Development Soultions; Skema Consulting
Timeline
Apr 2001 – Dec 2007
Southern Philippines Irrigation Sector Project
Description
Agricultural activities are essential to the livelihoods and income of the rural poor in the Philippines.
Through the Southern Philippines Irrigation Sector Project (SPISP) approximately 10,000 poor households will benefit from irrigation sector activities to assist in poverty reduction. The Project is constructing and improving irrigation and drainage systems, and strengthening the capacity, operation and management of irrigation systems through beneficiary irrigation associations.
Through SPISP farmers are encouraged to improve the performance of National Irrigation Association irrigation systems by transferring ownership of systems to beneficiary water user associations. SPISP prepares farmers’ organisations to manage their systems and, consequently, increase farm household income and reduce poverty rates in project areas.
Responsibilities
HAI is working with the National Irrigation Association, Province Government of Agusan del Norte, and community representatives to increase the living standards and per capita income in target communities benefiting up to 10,000 farm households through reduced rural poverty.
Key project components include:
• Participation and Transfer – development and field testing, documentation and implementation of a participatory process designed to involve users in decision making, organise water user associations, build their capacity for sustained operation and management and transfer irrigation systems to self-reliant water user associations;
• Physical Infrastructure – to develop irrigation systems and farm to market roads; and
• Environmental and Social Measures – establish measures to avoid or mitigate any adverse environmental or social impacts. These include environmental watersheds, land acquisition, and resettlement plans, indigenous peoples development, schistosomiasis control, income generation activities, strengthening women’s role in development.
