A CRITICAL STUDY OF DESIGN AND PLANNING OF THE WORKS IN SOME SMALL IRRIGATION SYSTEMS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Abstract

The Philippines population is predominantly rural and two-thirds of this population depends on farming for their livelihood. In term of employment, about one-half of the labor force is engaged in agricultural activities. The most extensive use of water is for agriculture. In the past, many outstanding irrigation systems like The Agno River, Magat River, Jalaur River, Camiling River, Tarlac River, Siffu River, Libungan River, Pampanga-Bongabon and The Abulog River Irrigation Systems had been constructed for irrigating vast areas. After implementation of various major, medium and minor schemes up to the end of The Ten-Year-Plan, vast irrigation potential has been exploited by various irrigation sources like canal, wells and others. It is seen from the above that after construction of any irrigation schemes or projects and canals, these have their important place and have to function efficiently and serve the purpose, for which they have been planned, designed and constructed carrying the designed discharge capacity in the field. The deterioration of discharge is due to many factors like accumulation of silt; cracking of lining; failure of drainage; growth of weeds etc.