Rep. Mercado said he formally turned over the newly completed irrigation system to officers of the Munda Irrigators Association, Inc. during rites held at Sitio San Miguel, Barangay Umi, Bontoc town.

Mercado said the new project that costs P4.5 million can irrigate rice fields in barangays Mauglod, Uni, Diversion, and Dao, all of Bontoc town.

He said the new irrigation system can irrigate some 160 hectares of rice fields in the four farming barangays.

The new irrigation system will make farmers plant rice three times a year and generate sufficient rice supply for the people of Southern Leyte.

Presently, farmers can only plant rice once a year as they lack water for their rice fields, Rep. Mercado said.

He thanked President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for the continued release of funds to Southern Leyte through his initiatives, saying it benefits the people, particularly the farmers, as they are the beneficiaries of the development project.

NIA Southern Leyte superintendent Jose Babiano thanked President Arroyo and Rep. Mercado for the project which the NIA implemented.