NIA DAEO attends Virtual Presser of the IATF-Task Group on Food Security

February 21, 2022, 10:42 AM

The Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations of the National Irrigation Administration, Engr. C’zar M. Sulaik attended the169th Virtual Presser IATF - Task Group on Food Security as a resource person on February 15, 2022 at the Department of Agriculture.

Aired at 2:30 in the afternoon via PTV4, RTVM, and DA Facebook page, DA Sulaik gave update on the situation of Angat Dam which provides domestic water supply of Metro Manila and water requirement for irrigation of the Angat Afterbay Regulatory Dam (Bustos Dam).

DA Sulaik shared irrigation water delivery schedule for 2022 dry cropping season (November 1, 2021 - April 30, 2022) and for 2023 dry cropping season (November 1, 2022 – April 30, 2023) at the Angat-Maasim River Irrigation System. AMRIS has a program area of 26, 791 hectares benefitting 23, 708 farmers in Bulacan and Pampanga.

The Deputy Administrator explained that the normal high level of Angat Dam is 202 masl wherein as of yesterday, the water level is 195.85 masl, still far from the 160 masl critical level of the dam. In line with this, he mentioned that NIA had a successful negotiation with the NWRB, MWSS, Maynilad and Manila Water last January 11, 2022 regarding the Agency’s mitigation plans to meet the water supply requirements for irrigation without sacrificing the equally important need for domestic water supply in Manila and its nearby provinces.

As a result of this negotiation, 500 units of shallow tube well pumps were given to the farmers of AMRIS to reuse water from drainage/creeks. Aside from these pumps, a corresponding fuel subsidy amounting to P15 million has also been granted by the MWSS, through its water concessionaires.

DA Sulaik mentioned the Agency’s big dams and irrigation systems within Luzon such as the Magat Dam in Isabela and Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija. He also said that construction of irrigation projects outside Luzon is on-going, particularly the biggest dam being constructed at the Visayas, the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Stage II in Iloilo Province which is targeted to serve 31,840 hectares of farmlands.

Closing the interview, DA Sulaik assured the farmers of a continued efficient and reliable irrigation service from NIA as the Agency’s Budget for CY 2022 was already released. Hosted by DA Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson Noel O. Reyes, the virtual presser ended at 3:00pm shared by the Facebook pages of NIA offices nationwide.