May 2022

Bringing irrigation...
5 May 2022 - 10:37am
NIA and DA reunite after...
19 May 2022 - 9:12am
NIA inaugurates the P990...
30 May 2022 - 9:08am
NIA, DOST inks MOU on...
31 May 2022 - 8:50am

Bringing irrigation service closer to the Filipino farmers

May 5, 2022, 10:37 AM
 

Pasay City – With the objective of showcasing the significant and major outputs of infrastructure flagship projects (IFPs) under the term of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, the 5th Inter-Agency IFP Forum: Final Project Review of the Working Committee for Forward Transition was conducted at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) on April 28, 2022 by the Department Public Works and Highways (DPWH), together with heads of line and oversight agencies, as well as development partners involved in the implementation of IFPs under the Build, Build, Build (BBB) Program.

Being an infrastructure agency, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), headed by Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, fast-tracks the implementation of six IFPs to cover more agricultural areas in the country. In his Executive Report, he shared the accomplishments of NIA’s IFPs, namely, the P13.37-billion Balog-Balog Multipurpose Project – Phase II (BBMP-II) in Tarlac, P11.21-billion Jalaur River Multipurpose Project – Stage II (JRMP-II) in Iloilo, P5.444-billion Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project - Stage II (MMIP-II) in North Cotabato, P3.134-billion National Irrigation System Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (NISRIP) with 11 irrigation projects nationwide, P3.5-billion Lower Agno River Irrigation System Improvement Project (LARISIP) in Pangasinan, and P4.372-billion Chico River Pump Irrigation Project (CRPIP) in Kalinga to bring efficient, reliable, and sustainable irrigation service closer for greater Filipino farmers. An Audio-Visual Presentation was also played after the Administrator’s Executive Report.

NIA Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector C’zar M. Sulaik, CRPIP Project Manager Reyvilino Apongol, LARISIP Project Manager Freddie M. Toquero, JRMP-II Project Manager Jonel Borres, MMIP-II Acting Project Manager Reynaldo Sarigumba, BBMP-II Project Manager Prudencio Santos, Engineering Department Manager Reynaldo Baloloy, and Project Benefits Monitoring and Evaluation Section (PBMES) Chief Sweetclaire Gamboa were present during the event. The Office of the Public Affairs and Information Staff (PAIS), headed by Department Manager Eden Victoria C. Selva, organized the Agency’s booth and distributed flyers and other Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) Materials to the participating agencies in coordination with the Construction Management Division, Engineering Department and Project Management Offices.

DPWH Undersecretary and Chief Implementer of Flagship Projects under the BBB Program Emil K. Sadain, Department of Finance (DOF) Undersecretary for International Finance Group Mark Dennis Y.C. Joven, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Undersecretary for Functional Group Head of the Budget Policy and Strategy Group Rolando U. Toledo, National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) OIC-Undersecretary for Investment Planning Group Roderick M. Planta, together with the officials from different line agencies, such as the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), Department of Transportation (DOTr), Metropolitan Water and Sewerage System (MWSS), University of the Philippines – Philippine General Hospital (UP-PGH), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Energy (DOE), National Power Corporation (NPC), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), Department of Health (DOH), Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), and Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) attended the event.

NIA remains true to its mandate on the development, construction, operation, and maintenance of irrigation systems for the benefit of the Filipino farmers. The Legacy of the Duterte Administration to usher the Golden Age of Infrastructure Development in the country may serve as the building blocks of infrastructure development programs for the succeeding administration and beyond.

#TuloyAngDaloyNIA
#BuildBuildBuild
#DuterteLegacy
 

BBP-IFP Chief Implementer and DPWH Secretary Sadain delivers his message during the 5th Inter-Agency IFP Forum: Final Project Review of the Working Committee for Forward Transition

From left to right: CRPIP Project Manager Reyvilino Apongol, LARISIP Project Manager Freddie Toquero, PBMES Chief Sweetclaire Gamboa, Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector C’zar M. Sulaik, BBMP-II Project Manager Prudencio Santos, MMIP-II Project Manager Reynaldo Sarigumba, and Acting Engineering Department Manager Reynaldo Baloloy at the NIA IFP Booth organized by the Office of the Public Affairs and Information Staff, in coordination with the Construction Management Division, Engineering Department and Project Management Offices

NIA Administrator Ricardo Visaya delivers his Executive Report during the Inter-Agency IFP Forum.

NIA IFP Audio-Visual Presentation

NIA officials together with BBP-IFP Chief Implementer and DPWH Secretary Sadain (6th from right)

 

**For questions and/or clarifications, you may contact:

EDEN VICTORIA C. SELVA
Department Manager
NIA Public Affairs and Information Staff
E-mail: evcselva2000@yahoo.com
Landline: (02) 8921-3741

 

NIA and DA reunite after 8 years

May 19, 2022, 9:12 AM
 

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and the Department of Agriculture (DA) conduct their First Coordination Meeting on May 12-13, 2022 at the Convention Hall, NIA Central Office, National Government Center, EDSA Diliman, Quezon City.

This coordination meeting was conducted after President Rodrigo Roa Duterte signed Executive Order No. 168, series of 2022 on April 25, 2022 transferring NIA to DA as an attached agency from being under the Office of the President (OP) for almost eight years.

NIA contingent is led by its Top Management Officials: Senior Deputy Administrator Benny D. Antiporda, Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector C'zar M. Sulaik, and Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Ralph Lauren A. Du, together NIA Central Office Department Managers, Corporate Board Secretary, Regional Managers, and Project Managers nationwide.

DA contingent is led by Undersecretary for Operations Ariel T. Cayanan and Assistant Secretary for Operations Arnel V. De Mesa along with their Division Chiefs. They are joined by Regional Executive Directors nationwide and officials of their National Rice Program and National Corn Program.

In his welcome remarks, NIA Deputy Administrator Du said that NIAns are steadfast in their conviction and in their determination that together with the Department of Agriculture, they shall succeed in achieving the goals of their great alliance for progress through efficient development, construction, operation and maintenance of irrigation systems nationwide.

DA Undersecretary Cayanan emphasized the importance of irrigation as he said, “What will be agriculture without water?” Usec. Cayanan said that DA had never been in trouble coordinating with NIA despite the dotted line that exists between them in the past eight years that this irrigation agency has been under OP. Now that NIA is attached to DA again, such line turns to a solid one, thus a chance to be a family in synergy to further develop the agricultural sector of the country.

Meanwhile, NIA Senior Deputy Administrator Antiporda, known for being an action-solution manager, sees light to this very important partnership between NIA and DA, especially now that the current administration is solution-based. He said that with DA prior 2014, NIA has done good. With the Office of the President for the past eight years, NIA has done better. Now that NIA is with DA again, SDA Antiporda is looking forward that this partnership will be the best.

During the morning session, NIA Acting Operations Manager Delsy J. Revellame presented the general information of all irrigation systems nationwide and status of irrigation systems per region. During the open forum, issues regarding devolution were discussed. NIA then committed to resolve concerns in its devolution implementation with the help of DA, taking into account that any decision will have repercussion on the long-term target to boost the country’s agricultural sector.

During the afternoon session, DA Technical Staff Jemflor Santiago discussed the rice and corn wet season planting status. Updates on fertilizer distribution under the rice program were presented by Mr. Ralph Alan Ceniza while updates under the corn program were discussed by Ms. Riciena Louise Bulingot.

Closing the meeting on the first day, SDA Antiporda said that DA and NIA have only one way to go, and that is success.

On the second day, NIA conducted a briefing with DA Secretary William D. Dar. Attendees were NIA Top Management Officials, headed by Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, Corporate Board Secretary, Department, Regional and Project Managers nationwide.

In his message, Administrator Visaya mentioned, “It is said that irrigation is the backbone of agriculture. Let this backbone be continuously strengthened with the full support of Secretary William Dar and the rest of the Department of Agriculture. Working hand-in-hand, I know that we can do better, together.”

Grateful to NIA for its warm welcome to DA, Secretary Dar said, “NIA, now with one DA family will vigorously work together with other relevant institutions, or bureaus or agencies or units within the Department of Agriculture. Synergy must be there; harmonization of efforts must be there.”

Participants from the Department of Agriculture and National Irrigation Administration for their First Coordination Meeting at the Convention Hall, NIA Central Office, EDSA Diliman, Quezon City

NIA Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector C’zar M. Sulaik introducing NIA Top Management Officials along with the Department Managers, Regional and Project Managers to the participants from DA.

NIA Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Ralph Lauren A. Du gives his welcome remarks saying that this meeting marks a new era of goodwill and mutual cooperation between DA and NIA.

Senior Deputy Administrator Benny D. Antiporda delivers his message saying that he sees light to this very important partnership between NIA and DA especially now that the current administration is solution-based.

DA Undersecretary for Operations Ariel Cayanan delivers his message where he emphasized the prime significance of irrigation to agriculture.

NIA Operations Manager Delsy J. Revellame presenting the general information of all irrigation systems nationwide and status of irrigation systems per region

DA Technical Staff Jemflor Santiago discussing the rice and corn wet season planting status

Updates on fertilizer distribution under the rice program being presented by Mr. Ralph Alan Ceniza of DA

Updates on fertilizer distribution under the corn program being presented by Ms. Riciena Louise Bulingot of DA

Group photo of the officials and participants from the Department of Agriculture with NIA Top Management Officials

Group photo of the officials and participants from the National Irrigation Administration with DA Undersecretary Cayanan and DA Assistant Secretary De Mesa

Group photo of the NIA family with DA Secretary William D. Dar. May 13, 2022

NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya delivering his welcome message on the briefing with DA Secretary William D. Dar

DA Secretary William D. Dar delivering his message to NIA family on his first official visit to the Agency

**For questions and/or clarifications, you may contact:

EDEN VICTORIA C. SELVA
Department Manager A
NIA Public Affairs and Information Staff
E-mail: evcselva2000@yahoo.com
Landline: (02) 8921-3741 loc. 113

 

NIA inaugurates the P990-million worth Bulo Dam in DRT, Bulacan

May 30, 2022, 9:08 AM
 

Led by Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) inaugurated the P990.37-million Bulo Small Reservoir Irrigation Project in Brgy. Kalawakan, Doña Remedios Trinidad, Bulacan on May 20, 2022.

The construction of Bulo Dam started in March 2018 and was completed in March this year. With 314 farmer-beneficiaries, Bulo SRIP will provide irrigation service to 570 hectares of agricultural lands - 35 hectares of farmlands in Barangay Kalawakan in the municipality of Doña Remedios Trinidad and 535 hectares in Barangay Malibay in the municipality of San Miguel.

Bulo Dam will also serve as a flood control structure to prevent flooding in San Miguel town and adjacent municipalities whenever strong typhoons dump heavy rains in Bulacan. The old structure was originally constructed by the Department of Public Works and Highways in 1991 as a flood-control project for the downstream Bulo River of San Miguel town. However, it was destroyed by heavy rains spawned by Typhoon Pedring in September 2011. Floodwaters caused the earthen dam to break.

A scenic and fitting venue for recreational activities is also set to be Bulo Dam’s another purpose as the Agency ventures to maximize the utilization of its dams and reservoirs nationwide. Once the water level in Bulo Dam reaches its normal level, NIA will release fingerlings in the reservoir to continuously help the farmers in having extra source of income.

The ribbon cutting and unveiling of marker was initiated by NIA Administrator Visaya along with NIA Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Ralph Lauren A. Du, NIA Region III Manager Josephine B. Salazar, Bulacan 3rd District Representative Lorna Silverio, and 7th Infantry Division Commander MGen Andrew D. Costelo.

Rev. Fr. Derick James Vergara of Brgy. Kalawakan Catholic Mission presided the blessing of the marker, dam structure and the gatekeeper’s quarter.

In the program proper, an audio-visual presentation briefer of the dam was shown. Highlighting the program is the turnover of management of Bulo SRIP from the Regional Office to Bulacan-Aurora-Nueva Ecija (BANE) Irrigation Management Office. From being a small reservoir irrigation project, this now becomes a small reservoir irrigation system.

Also present in the event were Doña Remedios Trinidad Mayor Marita Flores and Malibay-Kalawakan Irrigators Association (IA) President Sotero Sitchon together with his IA members benefitting from the project.

In her message, NIA Region III Manager Salazar said, “Kung matatandaan po natin noong nakaraang April 30, 2018, magkakasama din po tayo dito. Dito po ginanap ‘yung groundbreaking kasama po ‘yung capsule laying ng Bulo. Pagkatapos po ng apat na taon, ipiniprisinta ko po sa inyo ang Bulo Dam, napakaganda pong tignan.”

Closing the inauguration ceremony, Administrator Visaya encouraged the farmer-beneficiaries to take care of the Bulo Dam as he said, “This will really be a big help to our farmers in San Miguel and DRT. Kay Pangulong Sitchon, sana po ay samahan n’yo s’ya, ipagpatuloy po ang ugnayan with our personnel ng NIA dito. Ingatan po natin ito. Alagaan po natin ito para di na maulit ang pagkasira nito.”

Bulo Dam Marker found adjacent the dam’s spillway

The reservoir of Bulo Dam during the day of its inauguration

The control structure of Bulo Dam

Elevated flumes where irigation water would flow from Bulo Dam to farmlands

The gatekeeper’s quarter of the Bulo Dam

Ribbon cutting: From left to right - 7th Infantry Division Commander MGen Andrew D. Costelo, NIA Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Ralph Lauren A. Du, Bulacan 3rd District Representative Lorna Silverio, NIA Region III Manager Josephine B. Salazar, and NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya

Unveiling of Marker: From left to right - NIA Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Ralph Lauren A. Du, NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, Bulacan 3rd District Representative Lorna Silverio, and 7th Infantry Division Commander MGen Andrew D. Costelo

Rev. Fr. Derick James Vergara of Brgy. Kalawakan Catholic Mission leads the blessing of the marker, dam structure and the gatekeeper’s quarter.

From left to right – Malibay-Kalawakan IA President Sotero Sitchon, DRT Mayor Marita Flores, Bulacan 3rd District Representative Lorna Silverio, NIA Region III Manager Josephine B. Salazar, NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, NIA Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Ralph Lauren A. Du, and 7th Infantry Division Commander MGen Andrew D. Costelo

NIA Region III Manager Josephine Salazar

NIA Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Ralph Lauren Du introducing the Guest of Honor and Speaker

NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya delivering his message during the inauguration ceremony

NIA and LGU officials with the benefitting Malibay-Kalawakan IA headed by Mr. Sitchon

NIA and LGU officials with NIA Region III employees

 

**For questions and/or clarifications, you may contact:

EDEN VICTORIA C. SELVA
Department Manager A
NIA Public Affairs and Information Staff
E-mail: evcselva2000@yahoo.com
Landline: (02) 8921-3741 loc. 113

 

NIA, DOST inks MOU on Water Resource Management Climate Resilient Infrastructure Initiative Program

May 31, 2022, 8:50 AM
 

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technologies of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCIEERD) on Water Resource Management Climate Resilient Infrastructure Initiative Program on May 27, 2022 at the NIA Administrator’s Conference Room, 2nd Floor, Building A.

The signing of the MOU between NIA, represented by Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, and the DOST-PCIEERD, represented by Executive Director Dr. Enrico C. Paringit, aims to pursue the Water Resource Management Climate Resilient Infrastructure Initiative Program (WRMCRII-P) as DOST-PCIEERD and NIA recognize a need to continually develop new strategies in enhancing disaster resiliency of our local government/community, and climate change adaptability of our development and infrastructure investment in light of the rapid advancement of Science and Technology, as well as the growing challenges and uncertainties brought upon by climate change and disasters.

The WRMCRII-Program targets to create a harmonized water resource management, disaster resilience, and climate change adaptation and mitigation program based on mutually agreed upon Research and Development (R&D) and Science and Technology (S&T) intervention plan, establish a system where planning, project/program development, and policies conducted by NIA are able to utilize the expertise, tools and datasets available, as well as new knowledge generated from the WRMCRII-Program component projects, and propose studies for other strategic R&D areas and S&T intervention priorities through the combined expertise and resources of the DOST-PCIEERD and the NIA under the WRMCRII-Program.

The MOU formalizes the cooperation between the NIA and DOST-PCIEERD and delineates the functions in the implementation of the WRMCRII-Program. There are pre-identified areas for Potential S&T Collaboration. These includes the following: real-time monitoring during floods (sensors/monitoring systems), allocation of flood control in all dams, severe sedimentation-desilting, dam break scenario-affected communities, inter-agency collaboration on watershed rehabilitation, enhanced forecasting during floods, hydrological and river flow modelling, groundwater modelling and monitoring for irrigation well areas, shallow tube wells for aquifer recharge and smart farming innovative water management systems.

Also present during the MOU signing are DOST-PCIEERD Chief Research Scientist Engr. Nonilo A. Peña, NIA Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector Engr. C’zar M. Sulaik, NIA Operations Department Manager Engr. Delsy J. Revellame, and NIA Corporate Planning Services Manager Rogelia C. Dela Torre.

The pursuit of this program is in line with the undertaking of the Agency towards modernization and innovation and in addressing challenges and uncertainties of climate change and disasters.

NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya (2nd from left) and DOST-PCIEERD Executive Director Dr. Enrico C. Paringit (2nd from right), together with NIA Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector Engr. C’zar M. Sulaik (outermost left), DOST-PCIEERD Chief Research Scientist Engr. Nonilo A. Peña (outermost right), NIA Operations Department Manager Engr. Delsy J. Revellame, NIA Corporate Planning Services Manager Rogelia C. Dela Torre, and officials and staff from NIA and DOST-PCIEERD during the MOU Signing

NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, DOST-PCIEERD Executive Director Dr. Enrico C. Paringit, NIA Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector Engr. C’zar M. Sulaik, DOST-PCIEERD Chief Research Scientist Engr. Nonilo A. Peña, NIA Operations Department Manager Engr. Delsy J. Revellame, and NIA Corporate Planning Services Manager Rogelia C. Dela Torre during the MOU Signing

NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya (left) and DOST-PCIEERD Executive Director Dr. Enrico C. Paringit (right) during the MOU Signing

 

**For questions and/or clarifications, you may contact:

EDEN VICTORIA C. SELVA
Department Manager A
NIA Public Affairs and Information Staff
E-mail: evcselva2000@yahoo.com
Landline: (02) 8921-3741 loc. 113