MANILA — The Ilocos-Abra Irrigation Project will commence next year with its bidding to be conducted in January.

The project was recently approved during the 23rd NEDA Board meeting in Malacañang spearheaded by its chair, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Dec. 17, Tuesday.

NIA Administrator Engr. Eduardo Guillen said the construction will take five years but it can be shortened with simultaneous works.

"Dapat limang taon ang construction nito eh. Kaya lang, pwedeng iksian ito ng kahit mga 3-4 years lamang kung simultaneous 'yung paggawa. Ibig sabihin may gumagawa sa high dam, dito sa afterbay dam, sa irrigation facility at saka sa transbasin tunnel," he said.

The P37.5 billion project is expected to irrigate close to 15,000 hectares of land and benefit around 32,600 families of farmer beneficiaries.

"Kung ii-implement mo pa rito 'yung tinatawag nating alternate wetting and drying technology ay plus 20% pa," Guillen said.

The multi-purpose dam has power component of up to 20 megawatts.

Guillen also noted that the project -- conceptualized by late President Ferdinand Marcos Sr. -- was initially met with challenges which caused the delay in its implementation.

"Mabuti na lamang po at ngayon, napakaganda ng pag-uusap ng provincial government ng Ilocos Norte at ng Abra at parehas po na nagbigay ng endorsement sa RTC," he added.

Earlier, Marcos Jr. said the project must be implemented "with urgency".