EVALUATION OF THE WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT PROJECT INCLUDING THE MAGAT RIVER PROJECT FEASIBILITY STUDY

PROJ MANAGER DETAILS PROJ HISTORY & ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN PERFORMING THE EVAL, EMPHASIZING THE NIA"S MAGAT RIVER PROJ FEASIBILITY STUDY (7/71-6/73). US BUREAU OF RECLAMATION(BUREC) TECH ASSIST TEAM INCLUDED A PROJ ENGINEER,HYDROLOGIST,SOILS SCIENTIST,GROUNDWATER ENGINEER & A FIELD ENGINEER. THE MAGAT RIVER STUDY CONSISTED OF 3 MAIN SUBJ AREAS -- HYDROLOGY,ECON & LAND RESOURCES & ENGRG. OTHER ACTIVITIES INCLUDED SOIL SAMPLE TESTS & A SOCIAL & ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY BY THE INSTITUTE OF PLNNG,UNIV OF THE PHILIPPINES. ON 10/10/71 AN UNUSUAL FLOOD OCCURRED ON THE MAGAT RIVER CAUSING OVER 14 MIL PESO DAMAGE. ADDITIONAL STUDY OF THE SEDIMENT DISCHARGE OF THE MAGAT RIVER INDICATED THAT THE FUTURE RESERVOIR BEHIND THE SELECTED DAMSITE WOULD BE COMPLETELY FILLED WITH SEDIMENT WITHIN 100 YRS & ITS ECON USEFULNESS SERIOUSLY IMPAIRED WELL BEFORE THAT TIME. REPORT CONCLUDES THAT THE GOP CAPABILITY TO PLAN FOR A SINGLE PROJ WAS FAIRLY WELL-DEVLPED. HOWEVER,CONTINUED ASSIST WILL BE REQUIRED TO EXPAND SUCH PLNNG TO A BASIN OR A NATL BASIS. EVALUATOR RECOMMENDS THAT ADEQUATE FUNDS BE PROGRAMMED TO COLLECT BASIC DATA SUCH AS STREAMFLOWS & SEDIMENTATION LOADS. RESPONSIBILITY FOR WATER RESOURCES PLNNG SHOULD BE CENTRALIZED--EITHER WITHIN A NEW AGENCY OR A COMMITTEE CONSISTING OF MEMBERS OF EXISTING AGENCIES. FUTURE TECH ASSIST SHOULD BE DIRECTED TOWARD COUNTRY-WIDE PLNNG. IN-COUNTRY & PARTIC TRNG SHOULD BE CONTINUED IN FIELDS SUCH AS SOILS & WATER LAB TECHNIQUES & PROCEDURES,HYDROLOGY,GROUNDWATER ENGRG AND/OR GEOLOGY,DRAINAGE ENGRG,AGR ECON & DESIGN OF LARGE DAMS. INCENTIVES NEED TO BE DEVLPED TO PREVENT LOSS OF TALENT TO PRIVATE INDUS OR OUT-COUNTRY MIGRATIONS. ALTHOUGH THE MAGAT PROJ WAS DETERMINED TO BE FEASIBLE,CAREFUL CONSIDERATION SHOULD BE GIVEN BEFORE IMPLEMENTATION DUE TO ITS HIGH COST. THIS PROJ CONSISTS OF AN EARLIER WATER SURVEY PROJ(4920159) WHICH WAS COMBINED WITH AGR & IRRIGATION ACTIVITIES.