By Helen Castaño | 04:20 PM June 22, 2026
MABINI, Bohol — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday inaugurated the P833.37-million Mabini-Cayacay Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP), a major agricultural infrastructure project expected to provide a reliable water supply to 717 farmers and boost food production in eastern Bohol.
The project, implemented by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), will provide year-round irrigation to 530 hectares of agricultural land in the municipalities of Mabini and Alicia, benefiting farming communities in Barangays Abaca, San Roque, Aguipo, and Cabidian in Mabini, and Barangay Cayacay in Alicia.
Speaking during the inauguration ceremony in Barangay Abaca, Marcos reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening the agriculture sector through irrigation development, farm modernization, and food security programs.
The Mabini-Cayacay SRIP features a 32.20-meter-high and 210-meter-long dam, an ungated ogee weir spillway, and an 11.31-kilometer main canal system designed to efficiently deliver irrigation water to farmlands.
The facility draws water from the Baujanan and Cawasan creeks and is expected to increase cropping intensity, improve farm yields, and enhance agricultural productivity in the area.
The project forms part of the government’s broader efforts to modernize agriculture and improve the lives of Filipino farmers under the Bagong Pilipinas agenda.
NIA Administrator Engr. Eddie G. Guillen described the irrigation project as a long-term investment in rural development.
“Ang Mabini-Cayacay SRIP ay sagisag ng pag-asa, bunga ng pagtutulungan, at pamana ng kaunlaran para sa susunod na mga henerasyon,” Guillen said.
(The Mabini-Cayacay SRIP is a symbol of hope, a product of cooperation, and a legacy of progress for future generations.)
He added that as irrigation water reaches farmlands, it will create new opportunities for farmers to achieve more stable and productive livelihoods.
The inauguration was attended by NIA Region VII Regional Manager Engr. Eusebio S. Villamanto, local government officials, representatives of national government agencies, officers of irrigators’ associations, and farmer-beneficiaries.
Bohol Governor Erico Aristotle Aumentado said the completion of the project marked the realization of a vision first conceived in 2009.
“For many years to come, our people will look upon this project not just as infrastructure, but as a powerful symbol of a government that listens, that cares, and that acts,” Aumentado said.
Economic growth
He noted that the irrigation facility would generate opportunities for farming communities while contributing to the province’s continued economic growth.
“Beyond nourishing our fields and sustaining our harvests, the Mabini-Cayacay SRIP will open doors of opportunity, restore dignity in labor, and inspire hope for generations yet to come,” the governor said.
Aumentado also highlighted Bohol’s progress in poverty reduction, citing data showing that the province’s poverty incidence among families declined to 14.8 percent from 47.3 percent in 2000.
“Behind these numbers are real stories of resilience, opportunity, and hope,” he said.
As irrigation water begins flowing across the service area, officials expect the Mabini-Cayacay SRIP to improve farm productivity, increase farmers’ incomes, and strengthen the province’s contribution to national food security.
The inauguration coincided with the 63rd anniversary celebration of the National Irrigation Administration.
