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National Irrigation Administration head Claro V. Maranan directed Engr. Julius S. Maquiling, the designated Assistant Administrator for Mindanao, to look into the allegations raised by Agusan del Norte 1st District Representative Lawrence "Law" Fortun in his recent privilege speech on February 2014.

The Assistant Administrator will conduct validation on the status of the agency's projects in the Caraga Region. The said engagement is part of the NIA's effort to ensure that projects are properly being implemented and this is in line with the Administrator's Seven Point Program, The Rapid and Efficient Delivery of Irrigation Projects.

Based on his privilege speech, Rep. Fortun spoke of the anomalous inconsistencies of the NIA's accomplishment report and its accomplishment. He also showed pictures of the alleged incomplete irrigation projects to the members of the Lower House that were the same pictures reported by NIA Caraga to be complete or near completion.

The National Irrigation Administration will do the validation of the subject issues and will make the report ready out the earliest possible time.

Acting Regional Manager Ali S. Satol belies claims that the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) irrigation canal of the Siluay-Buayan River Irrigation Systems located at General Santos City was to be blamed for the recent flooding that hit Baluan, Lagao, San Isidro, Bula, and Mabuhay in that city.

The increased dependence on irrigation canal has not been without its negative environmental effect. It proved right when the water, during heavy downpour, from the mountains surrounding Gensan directly goes to the rivers feeding Siluay River Irrigation System and Buayan River Irrigation System dams which then pass through irrigation canals overflowed because these canals are designed for irrigation.

There are no drainage canals in the city so all the water coming from the mountains traverse irrigation canals, and these are not big enough to accommodate all the water crossing. Acting RM Satol added that NIA irrigation canals did not cause the flooding per se. It is then highly recommended that if there is a drainage master plan of the local government then it should be implemented soon.

Every time the rain falls, the protocol was that the gatekeeper opens the sluice gate to allow the water going to the canals and to avoid damage to irrigation structures.

Likewise, during high tide, water from Sarangani Bay enters the vicinity and with this NIA suggests constructing pumping stations to control flooding.