New mini dam. Businessman Lucio Tan unveils the commemorative marker of the Casilagan Norte Diversion dam in Banayoyo, Ilocos Sur. Also in photo are, from left, Banayoyo Mayor Severino Galanga and Dr. Robin Sy, honorary president of the Federation of Filipino Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Inc.
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.
The eighth mini dam restored by Dr. Tan in the last five years, the Casilagan Norte facility is capable of storing 60,000 cubic meters of water. It was designed to irrigate 120 hectares of rice and tobacco farmlands even through the dry summer months.
“I have instructed our team of soil and water experts to design and build more of such dams,” he told local officials, Ilocano farmers, and their children.
From Banayoyo, Dr. Tan flew to San Juan, also in Ilocos Sur. He inspected the site of a new water catchment basin which will soon be constructed by Fortune Tobacco Corporation and TYKF, in partnership with the San Juan municipal government.
Dr. Tan and his team then proceeded to Batac, Ilocos Norte to inspect the Quiling Norte- Abkir Diversion Dam.
Although encouraged by the success of his dam projects, Dr. Tan said he wants to see proper water utilization and better designs for the catchment basins to prevent water seepage and minimize evaporation. He explained that water in the mini dams was supposed to last until March but the reservoir was already depleted as early as February.
“We need a better lining of clay and stones to prevent water seepage. I also want our engineers to study whether we need a protective cover to reduce evaporation,” he said.
The tycoon said he is building and rehabilitating mini dams to set an example that it doesn’t take much to store water that will enable farmers to plant even during the dry season.
More importantly, he said, the project promotes water conservation, increases farm productivity and provides additional livelihood to farmers.
Dr. Tan often flies to Northern Luzon during Holy Week. Hundreds of tobacco farmers, their children and local officials eagerly await the tycoon’s regular visits to seven water impounding projects in Cagayan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte.
“I have instructed our team of soil and water experts to design and build more of such dams,” he told local officials, Ilocano farmers, and their children.
From Banayoyo, Dr. Tan flew to San Juan, also in Ilocos Sur. He inspected the site of a new water catchment basin which will soon be constructed by Fortune Tobacco Corporation and TYKF, in partnership with the San Juan municipal government.
Dr. Tan and his team then proceeded to Batac, Ilocos Norte to inspect the Quiling Norte- Abkir Diversion Dam.
Although encouraged by the success of his dam projects, Dr. Tan said he wants to see proper water utilization and better designs for the catchment basins to prevent water seepage and minimize evaporation. He explained that water in the mini dams was supposed to last until March but the reservoir was already depleted as early as February.
“We need a better lining of clay and stones to prevent water seepage. I also want our engineers to study whether we need a protective cover to reduce evaporation,” he said.
The tycoon said he is building and rehabilitating mini dams to set an example that it doesn’t take much to store water that will enable farmers to plant even during the dry season.
More importantly, he said, the project promotes water conservation, increases farm productivity and provides additional livelihood to farmers.
Dr. Tan often flies to Northern Luzon during Holy Week. Hundreds of tobacco farmers, their children and local officials eagerly await the tycoon’s regular visits to seven water impounding projects in Cagayan, La Union, Ilocos Sur and Ilocos Norte.