​Tan Yan Kee Foundation Inc. (TYKFI) and the Department of Agriculture-Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DW-BSWM) formally signed a Memorandum of Agreement on Oct. 20.
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Masa Florenda Small Water Impounding Project (SWIP) is located in Barangay San Andres, Balungao, Pangasinan.  Constructed in 1992, it was built in cooperation with the Bureau of Soils and Water Management and has been serving the needs of the area for more than 20 years.  It was also rehabilitated by the Provincial Government of Pangasinan.   However, there are portions which need to be removed, rehabilitated, and replaced with new structure to maximize its potential and use.

The Small Water Impounding Project is an ongoing advocacy of Dr. Lucio Tan especially for farmers in Northern Philippines.  With a significant number already serving areas in the region, another SWIP Project is ongoing  in Barangay Camangaan, San Juan, Ilocos Norte. This current project addresses an estimated area of about 20 hectares for irrigation. The effects of irrigation will be directly felt by about 35 farming families who plant tobacco and rice.

DR. LUCIO C. TAN is building more mini dams and water catchment basins to help mitigate the impact of El Niño and severe drought in most parts of Northern Luzon.

Tan, Chair of the Tan Yan Kee Foundation (TYKF), made the commitment during the inauguration of his latest water impounding project in Casilagan Norte, Banayoyo, Ilocos Sur on Good Friday.

For his pioneering efforts in constructing and rehabilitating small water dams for irrigation, Tan Yan Kee chairman Dr. Lucio C. Tan was conferred the Eco-award for Water Sustainability during the 8th Asia Pacific Roundtable for Sustainable Consumption and Production (APRSCP) held in Cebu City. 

A key agricultural initiative of Dr. Tan, Fortune Tobacco Corp. and the Tan Yan Kee Foundation, the construction and/or rehabilitation of small water ponds has a three-fold aim: 1) fresh water conservation; 2) productivity enhancement; and 3) provision of livelihood.