NIA Central Office – With 15 Regional Offices, two Integrated Irrigation Systems Offices, and 64 irrigation management offices (IMOs) nationwide, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) remains true to its mandate of providing efficient, reliable, and sustainable irrigation service to the Filipino farmers.
Under the term of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte, NIA supports the “Build, Build, Build” Program as part of the Duterte Administration’s 10-Point Socioeconomic Agenda envisioned to reduce poverty from 21.6% in 2015 to 13-15 percent in 2022 through massive infrastructure platform. NIA started the construction of its big-ticket projects to cover more agricultural areas nationwide, such as P1.029-billion Pasa Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (Isabela), P13.37-billion Balog-Balog Multipurpose Project – Phase II (Tarlac), P11.21-billion Jalaur River Multipurpose Project II (Iloilo), P25.731-billion Ilocos Norte-Ilocos Sur-Abra Irrigation Project, P3.5-billion Lower Agno River Irrigation System Improvement Project (LARISIP), P4.134-billion Bohol Northeast Basin Multipurpose Dam Project, P31.22-billion Kabulnan 2 Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project, P5.444-billion Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project (North Cotabato), P8.58-billion Tumauini River Multipurpose Project (Isabela) and P4.372-billion Chico River Pump Irrigation Project (Kalinga) which is also one of the NIA’s eight flagship projects. These big-ticket projects have an aggregate cost of P108.59 billion.
To maximize the utilization of existing irrigation facilities, NIA has embarked on the development of hydropower and solar irrigation projects. As of December 31, 2021, NIA already completed the construction of 333 solar-powered irrigation projects amounting to P1,517,533,450.71. These projects which can generate 4,215.33 horsepower (hp) also provide reliable irrigation water supply to 6,482.62 hectares of agricultural land nationwide, benefitting 8,467 farmers and their families. With the soaring price of gasoline and diesel, these solar-powered pump projects farmers can continue to irrigate their lands free from the burden of shouldering high fuel costs.
With its modernization and innovation platform, NIA utilizes the full potential of its irrigation facilities in agro-tourism, technological advancement, and innovations. Veering away from mere irrigation service, NIA invites interested parties to invest in hydroelectric power projects in 379 identified potential sites nationwide. Five of which are completely operational, thus providing sustainable resources for renewable energy.
Under the term of President Duterte, NIA also started venturing to floating solar power project on its dams and reservoirs as the SN Aboitiz Power Group has constructed a 2,500-square meter floating solar power energy in Magat Dam in Isabela which features solar panels fixed to floats on the water surface. Instead of focusing on land-based solar project, NIA offers its dams and reservoirs for the water-based project which can achieve the same purpose of increasing power production while saving agricultural lands.
As part of the Agency’s Re-Fleeting Program, NIA purchased 34 units of light and transport vehicles and 18 units of heavy equipment for CY 2017. For CY 2018, NIA acquired 91 units of light/transport vehicles and 18 units of heavy equipment. Meanwhile, five units of heavy equipment and 91 units of light/transport vehicles were set for procurement in 2019. Recently, NIA acquired 345 units of motor vehicles for use in the monitoring and evaluation of the status of ongoing construction and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) activities nationwide. Similarly, NIA started adopting High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE) to replace earth and/or lined canals due to its durability, leak-free joints, resistance to corrosion, and long-term cost-effectiveness. The Agency also utilizes Concrete Canvas (CC) as an innovative technique in canal lining construction which offers a faster and easier alternative to conventional concrete.
To promote comprehensive rural development and equal access to opportunities and sustained productivity, Republic Act No. 10969, otherwise known as the Free Irrigation Service Act (FISA) was signed into law by President Duterte on February 02, 2018. Under the law, all farmers with landholdings of eight hectares and below are exempted from paying the Irrigation Service Fees (ISF) for water derived from National and Communal Irrigation Systems (NISs and CISs).
As of December 2021, the Free ISF Program of the Government has a total of 1,033,778 farmers covering 1,189,503.87 hectares of agricultural land nationwide benefit under the law. Congruently, the National Irrigation Master Plan will pave the way on how to fully develop the remaining 1.4 million out of the 3.1 million hectares of potential areas for irrigation. Based from the NIMP, by 2030, about 75% shall have been provided with irrigation facilities.
For the status of irrigation development as of December 2020, NIA already developed and irrigated 64.12% of the total 3,128,631 hectares of estimated irrigable area. A 4.8% increase in irrigation development was recorded from CY 2016 to CY 2020.
The accomplishments of the NIA headed by Administrator Gen Ricardo R Visaya (Ret) have proven the immeasurable role of irrigation in irrigated agriculture. Indeed, the Duterte Administration has exemplified what true public service really mean – to care for the marginalized sector and for the welfare of the farmers, the agricultural heroes who feed the nation.
MALIGAYANG KAARAWAN, PANGULONG RODRIGO ROA DUTERTE!
**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
