In most cases, LGUs provide counterpart funds, counterpart particularly in the construction of

a scheme in which both the national canal and canal structures. Department of Agriculture
government and local government share BUREAU OF SOILS AND WATER
accountability to the project. MANAGEMENT
What is the prospect and future of Small
Water Impoundments?
What is the role of the BSWM in the
development and maintenance of The country has varied physical and climatic
SWIP? characteristics that suit the environmental

Prior to the project planning and development,

the BSWM undertakes initial identification and
selection of proposed project sites,
reconnaissance survey and investigations of
requirements of individual project. The nationwide
demand for SWIP and the limiting prime agricultural
lands that led to the agricultural cultivation of
higher slopes call for a more sensitive and carefully
planned implementation of these structures.
SMALL WATER
selected project sites; topographic mapping,
soil survey and investigation; geologic
investigation and socio-economic survey are
undertaken to collect the necessary data or
As the rainfed farms, particularly those situated in
sloping/undulating areas are not serviced by the
National Irrigation Administration (NIA) systems, the
IMPOUNDING
PROJECT
inputs for the subsequent technical and development of small-scale, on-farm type
financial/economic feasibility studies. rainwater storage facilities like SWIP may address
the situation.
Selected sites then undergo a series of studies
to determine their technical feasibility, The nationwide acceptance and recognition of

(SWIP)
economic viability, social acceptability and these projects as manifested by the continuous
environmental impact. The results of these requests from direct and indirect beneficiaries,
studies serve as the basis in making priority clearly suggest their appropriateness and
rankings of projects for implementation. usefulness. Substantial demand for SWIP is
particularly evident in areas with distinct wet and
The BSWM also provides technical trainings to dry season and in rolling topography. The collected
LGU staff as part of its program on capability and stored water is more useful during dry season
building and creation of enabling environment as this serves as the only source of water for crop
at the local level. The LGU is responsible in the production. Added incomes from fish and livestock
“right-of-way” negotiation with affected farmers production are also derived from these facilities.
and in the provision of agricultural support
services to the project beneficiaries. In
collaboration with the LGU, the BSWM also
provides trainings to farmer-beneficiaries on the
Operation and maintenance of SWIP systems.
The farmer-
beneficiaries are
then organized into
an association
which is duly
responsible in the Water Resources Management Division an
in:
SRDC Building, Elliptical rd. cor. Visayas Avenue, am
yLupa
project O & M. In P a g at Tubig
Diliman Quezon City
some cases, farmers Tel. No. 923-0462
provide labor
Laban sa Kahirapan

TIDS 2008
 What is SWIP? What are the uses of SWIP? • Provides recreational facilities as
swimming and picnic grounds for local
The Small Water Impounding Project or SWIP is a rural communities.
SWIP is more than providing irrigation to
structure constructed across a narrow depression marginal upland areas. The Project facilitates
or valley to hold back water and develop a multiple uses of stored water in terms of the Who can avail of SWIP? How do
reservoir that will store rainfall and run-off during following benefits: farmers benefit from it?
the rainy season for immediate or future use.
• Provides water for supplemental irrigation, The farmers are the principal beneficiaries of
The Small Water Impounding Management domestic purposes and livestock this project. At the farm level, project benefits
Committee (SWIM) once headed by the production in critical, less accessible upland include increase cropping intensity and yield,
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) areas and facilitate growing crops other than rice (i.e.,
classified small water impounding projects as isolated, crop diversification) and farm augmentation
earthen dams with structural heights of not more vulnerable through the integration of fish and livestock
than 30 meters and a volume storage not resource-poor production.
exceeding 50 million cubic meters. communities; At the community
• Enhances level, the project
In line with the provision of the Agriculture and upland contributes well in
Fishery Modernization Act of 1997 (AFMA), the productivity providing
Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) with strong additional sources
shall be responsible for the delivery of technical sense of of income for
assistance in relation to dams 15 meters or lower. responsibility among farmers while ensuring water users and
environmental sustainability; local people and
What is the role of water impounding • Facilitates inland fish production through in increasing labor
dams in soil and water conservation? the culture of freshwater fish, shrimps, eels demand within the rural community.
and other native freshwater species;
The SWIP has always been recommended as one • Contributes in combating local malnutrition What is the effect of SWIP to ecology
of the mechanical problems and helps in alleviating poverty in and the environment?
measures to conserve the uplands;
soil and water in • Serves as strategic small-scale upland The long-term benefits of SWIPs to the
support to the general structure of flood prevention and control in environmental and ecological stability are
objective of high rainfall areas to ensure whole-year flood control, reduced soil erosion/
effectively promoting round agricultural production, and for soil sedimentation and water moisture
the maximum and water conservation in areas with conservation through agro-forestry
utilization of and distinct wet and dry seasons to increase development in the watershed.
conservation of soil cropping intensity and enhance crop
and water resources in diversification; Who are the implementors of the
upland areas. It could transform poor upland rural • Enhances and facilitates recharging of SWIP Program?
communities into more self-reliant and viable groundwater and spring sources for
communities while harmonizing natural resources domestic and other uses; The technical staff for the SWIP Program
management and infrastructure development.
• Provides other environmental impacts such consists of the Water Resources Management
More importantly, it also enhances the
as maintaining important habitat for wildlife Division of the BSWM and the DA-RFUs. The
environmental services of agriculture in terms of
and biodiversity, thus, augmenting SWIP is usually implemented in partnership
flood mitigation, fostering groundwater recharge
government efforts in protecting our with the LGUs that have the technical
and sediment capture.
environment; and capability to implement such types of project.