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HTC News – Current Projects
Hagonoy Flood Mitigation Study HTC submitted to the local government of Hagonoy the final draft report of the Hagonoy Flood Mitigation Study. The study focuses on mitigating the flooding in the area coming from periodic tidal intrusion and yearly overspill of the Angat and Pampanga river basins. Hagonoy is a low lying municipality of the province of Bulacan prone to periodic flooding and recurring high tide. Recognizing the need, Mayor Angel L. Cruz, Jr. engage the service of Hydroterre Consultants, Inc to study and propose immediate and long term solutions to the flood problem. The study covered the assessment of the occurrence and effects of the tidal and fluvial flooding and formulation and design of appropriate schemes to mitigate the impact on the study area. The study presented the economic viability of each proposed mitigation plan and recommended the best alternative scheme for possible funding assistance from local and foreign financial sources.
The HTC consultants team was headed by Rolando Maloles/Hydrologist, Hilario Viray, Jr./Flood Control Planning Engineer cum Hydraulic Design Engineer, Edilberto Dumaua/River Hydraulics Model Specialist, Danilo Fajardo/Geologist, Renato Quioco/Hydraulic Design Engineer, Michael Jadie/Structural Engineer, Roque Lebag/Mechanical-Electrical Engineer, Teodorico Garcia/Cost Engineer, Primo Villanueva/Economic and Financial Analyst, and Eleanor Pintor/Environmental Specialist. Bago River Irrigation System Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (BRISRIP)
The BRISRIP project has a design area of approximately 15, 500 hectares covering the municipalities of Bago, La Carlota, Bacolod, Murcia, Pulupandan, San Enrique and Valladolid but only 86% is considered is presently irrigable. The principal project components include system rehabilitation and improvement, improved water management, irrigators’ association development, institutional development, watershed management, and consulting services. The main structures the diversion works with a skimming weir, sluice gates, intake gates and trash racks; construction of closed conduits and new tunnel; rehabilitation of main canal, laterals and related structures; service roads and access road. HTC is providing its services in association with two international consultants, Taiyo Consultants, Co. Ltd (lead firm) and Koei Research Institute International Cooperation, both from Japan, and with two Filipino firms, Philkoei International Inc. and Sustainable Development Solutions.
The HTC has fielded Ramon M. Davocol and Teodorico Garcia/Co-Team Leaders: Jaime Borlaza/Hydraulic Design Engineer; Tito Cerdan/Operation and Maintenance Specialist; and Carlos Isles and Renato de Lara/Institutional Development Experts. Help for Catubig Agricultural Advancement Project (HCAAP) The Help for Catubig Agricultural Advancement Project (HCAAP) is an agricultural and rural development project designed to provide sustainable agricultural and economic development in the Catubig Valley in Northern Samar that would bring about improvement in the quality of life of the farming communities in the municipalities of Catubig and Las Navas. The project is composed of five components namely: irrigation and drainage facilities covering about 4, 550 hectares of target service areas; rural infrastructure facilities such as farm to market roads, water supply and ferry landing rack; a public health component targeting the control and eradication of the dreaded disease, schistosomiasis; agricultural support services; and institutional development. Hydroterre Consultants, Inc. in association with Sanyu Consultants, Inc. Japan and EDCOP/Philippines were engaged by NIA to undertake the engineering consulting services.
HTC consultants assigned to the Project include Santiago D. Valdez/Irrigation Design Engineer; Teodorico Garcia/Drainage Design Engineer; Hilario Viray, Jr./Structure Design Engineer; Arnulfo Arobel/Geodetic Engineer; Roque Lebag/Mechanical Engineer; Miguel Espaldon/Construction Engineer; Eleanor Pintor/Institutional Development Expert; and Alice Bergonia/Environmental Expert. Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project Phase III
Hydroterre Consultants, Inc. joined the association of international consultants engaged by DAR for the project composed of Nippon Koei Co. Ltd. of Japan (lead firm) and Philkoei International Inc.
HTC consultants assigned to the Project are Victor Rolando Saplala/Co-Team Leader/Sr. Civil Engineer; Hilario Viray, Jr./Rural Infrastructure Engineer, Rolando M. Maloles/Rural Infrastructure Planning Engineer/Hydrologist; Renato Quioco/Rural Infrastructure Design Engineer; Michael Jadie/Civil Engineer/Cost Estimator and Arni M. Misolas/Agribusiness Expert-A. Chhattisgarh Irrigation Development Project, India
The CIDP will support institutional strengthening and capacity development for the Water Resources Department (WRD) of the Government of Chhattisgarh (GOCG). The Project will modernize skills and upgrade existing development and management capabilities. It will support capacity development and institutional strengthening of Water Users Associations that will assume responsibilities for irrigation system operation and maintenance.
The HTC consultancy service was sought by Hydrosult Inc. of Canada, the lead firm for the Asian Development Bank assisted project under the Water Resource Department, State of Chhattisgarh. Jaime Borlaza is the HTC consultant assigned to the project as Irrigation Design Specialist. The consultancy services of Mr. Borlaza commenced in mid-August 2007. |  |
HTC planned a scheme to control the inflow from Pampanga River to the Hagonoy town center and the surrounding agricultural and fishery areas. This included a system of diverting flood waters to the Sapang and Halang rivers. The estimated benefited area of this scheme is about 1,600 hectares. Another scheme is to protect the Hagonoy town proper by means of physical barriers composed of dikes and river walls along the Halang and Hagonoy rivers. Drainage pumping stations were also studied along with the cost effectiveness of such schemes. Provisions for navigation along the main waterways, storm drainage outfalls, check gates and related hydraulic control structures were incorporated in the physical plans. The project commenced on February 2008.
The Bago River Irrigation System Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (BRISRIP) is a JBIC-assisted project of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Bago, Negros Occidental. The main objective is to rehabilitate and improve the existing irrigation facilities in order to promote agricultural development and improve the income level of farmer-beneficiaries in the area. 
The scope of works of the Consultants include the preparation of detailed design of the civil works facilities taking into account appropriate technology suited to the local condition, preparation of engineering drawings and the construction program as well as the annual disbursement schedule, detailed cost estimate of the Project; preparation of the technical specifications and tender documents, assist and advise NIA in the prequalifications and tender for the civil work portion and equipment supply portion, evaluation, construction, monitoring, supervision in environmental management; review the existing organizing framework and training modules; recommend sustainable program of institutional development for irrigators associations; transfer of technology; assist NIA to conduct participatory training as well as leadership training; assist NIA to update irrigation parameters at the field level with farmers awareness and cooperation; assist in the establishment of system for improved irrigation O&M and watershed management; supervision of construction, monitoring and evaluation. BRISRIP was started in February 2003 and expected to be completed on February 2010.
The scope of services of HTC consultants’ include: detailed investigations and engineering design of irrigation dams and canals, drainage, roads and bridges as well as mechanical and electrical equipment for the project; review and supervise additional geological surveys in the project area; prepare quantity/cost estimates for the irrigation and drainage structures; give technical advise and assistance in the preparation of bidding documents for civil works contract packages; supervision of construction of civil works for irrigation and drainage systems under contract and by administration; develop and implement programs for the organization, mobilization and capability building-up of irrigators’ associations through the participatory approach; and collaborate in the formulation of environmental programs related to schistosomiasis control and prevention. HCAAP was started on July 2002 and expected to be completed on April 2009. 
The Agrarian Reform Infrastructure Support Project III, worth about JPY 11.802 billion (about US$108.61 million) is a follow up to the successful implementation of two JBIC-assisted projects, ARISP I and ARISP II under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) of the Department of Agrarian Reform. ARISP III is an integrated package of support services which include building infrastructure facilities like dams, bridges, and irrigation structures; farm to market roads; potable water supply; agrarian information market centers; micro financing and training for farmers. The project aims to improve productivity and improve farm incomes in 129 Agrarian Reform Communities (ARCs) in 54 provinces including 33 poorest provinces.
The scope of work of HTC Consultants include: review and evaluate feasibility studies and designs prepared by the local government with NIA’s assistance in the study for the communal irrigation projects; determine additional studies, field investigations, hydrologic studies and design to upgrade project designs to DAR standard; guidance and assistance in detailed designs, approval of design for construction implementation of the LGU, construction inspection and acceptance; monitoring and evaluation; strengthening of local government unit and farmer beneficiaries through institutional development with respect to the construction, operation, maintenance and overall project management responsibilities; review of the cost recovery procedures for all the infrastructure facilities; training and capacity building of LGU and irrigators’ association, training of DAR and NIA staff in planning, design and project appraisal. ARISP III was started on May 2008 and is expected to be completed on April 2014.
Chhattisgarh is abundant in agricultural land and rainfall, but irrigated agricultural productivity is low. Irrigation system performance is low mainly due to inadequate operation and maintenance. The need to improve water management and deficient farm practices also make it difficult for many farmers to engage in anything but low-value rice cultivation. The Asian Development Bank (ADB) in its country strategy and program for India stated that “expansion of agriculture and rural development is arguably the most important feature of the new strategy to mainstream poverty reduction.” The Chhattisgarh’s Irrigation Development Project aims to improve the rural livelihood of its rural population through improved agricultural productivity and reduce poverty. The CIDP also will improve the irrigation service delivery, enhance agricultural practices and strengthen water resources management to increase the productivity of irrigated agriculture in Chhattisgarh.
The scope of services provided by HTC staff includes: advise on the establishment of new Design Division, its organizational structure and its procedures; help build capacity of the division; review the database of the projects and participate in the application of selection criteria to recommend sub-projects with the Participatory Irrigation Management Specialist; participate in the preparation of the annual program of the work; establish detailed guidelines for the process of inspection and WRD/WUA walk-through of schemes, participatory design and assessments of all schemes; assess WRD technical capacity for scheme design and evaluate capacity development needs; identify irrigation design and management options for rehabilitation and upgrading works and facilitate review and approval within the WRD; propose new design schemes covering the engineering, social, environmental, community development and PIM aspects and make recommendations on the respective roles and relationships between the Central Design Unit, Survey Teams and staff in Divisional and Sub-Divisional offices with capacity for survey and design works; prepare manuals and guidelines for design of R&U works, including template reconnaissance and feasibility reports, train WRD counterpart staff on their use; review and assist implementation of the WRD training program on the new proposed process and provide on the job training; assist and support WRD assigned staff in carrying feasibility design schemes and conduct detailed engineering design R&U works and preparing tender documents suitable for LCB contracts; and provide input to the State Water Plan process in relation to the irrigation sub-sector.