By I. Inojales | 09:22 PM June 24, 2026
TAGBILARAN CITY, Bohol — Governor Aris Aumentado has called for a legislative inquiry into the recently inaugurated Mabini-Cayacay Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP) to address concerns surrounding the project and ensure that local farmers will not be adversely affected.
In a Facebook post, Aumentado said the Provincial Government of Bohol will request the Sangguniang Panlalawigan to conduct an inquiry in aid of legislation into the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) irrigation project in Barangay Cayacay, Alicia.
“Among ipa-susi sa Sangguniang Panlalawigan, in aid of legislation, ang NIA project sa Cayacay aron maklaro ang isyu ug dili madehado ang mga mag-uuma,” Aumentado said.
The governor did not specify the issues that prompted the proposed investigation but emphasized the need to clarify concerns surrounding the project and protect the interests of farmers who are expected to benefit from it.
The irrigation facility was formally inaugurated by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on June 22. The project, worth P833.37 million, is expected to improve agricultural productivity and strengthen the resilience of farming communities against climate variability and prolonged dry spells.
According to NIA, the project will provide a reliable year-round irrigation water supply to 530 hectares of agricultural land in the municipalities of Mabini and Alicia, benefiting 717 farmers.
The service area covers Barangays Abaca, San Roque, Aguipo, and Cabidian in Mabini, as well as Barangay Cayacay in Alicia.
Implemented under the leadership of NIA Administrator Engr. Eddie Guillen, 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 designed to efficiently distribute irrigation water to farmlands.
The facility draws water from the Baujanan and Cawasan creeks and is envisioned to increase cropping intensity, improve farm yields, and boost agricultural production in eastern Bohol.
The proposed inquiry by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is expected to examine issues related to the project’s implementation and operation, as provincial officials seek assurances that its intended benefits will reach the farming communities it was designed to serve.
