BAGO City, Philippines--President Macapagal-Arroyo inaugurated close to P2 billion in infrastructure projects in Negros Occidental, including a P1.8-billion rehabilitated irrigation system in Bago City, on Friday.

First, the President inaugurated the Bago River Irrigation System covering 13,277 hectares and serving about 10,000 farmers in the cities of Bacolod, Bago and La Carlota and the towns of Murcia, Pulupandan, San Enrique and Valladolid.

The President threw seeds into a rice field at the ceremonial rites as she said the government seeks to boost farmer income and help them become entrepreneurs.

During a forum attended by 1,000 rice farmers in Barangay Bagroy, Bago City, Ms Arroyo said the government would make available to farmers P150 billion in loans.

The National Food Authority (NFA) would also increase the amount of rice it would buy from farmers to a million metric tons, she said.

Carlos Salazar, National Irrigation Administration (NIA) administrator, said the irrigation system would help boost organic farming and increase rice production.

The President also inaugurated the P54.1-million Bagacay Bridge along the Hinigaran-Isabela Road and the P52.3-million Bagroy Bridge along the Binalbagan-Isabela Road, both in the 5th district of Negros Occidental represented by her brother-in-law Rep. Ignacio Arroyo Jr.

In Bacolod City, she inaugurated the P88.5-million Tangub Singcang Section of the Bacolod City-South-Kabankalan Road Project.