March 2019

NIA kicks off P11.212-B...

03/05/2019 - 10:58am

NIA acquires P154.7-M...

03/05/2019 - 10:58am

NIA files second formal...

03/14/2019 - 4:47pm

NIA kicks off P11.212-B JRMP II construction

March 5, 2019, 10:58 AM

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) conducted the Groundbreaking and Capsule-Laying Ceremony of the P11.212-billion Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Stage II (JRMP II) on February 27, 2019 at Daewoo Engineering and Construction Temporary Facilities Compound in the Municipality of Calinog, Iloilo. This signifies the official start of the said multi-billion irrigation project.

JRMP II is the NIA's 8th big ticket irrigation project under the “Build, Build, Build” Infrastructure Program of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the 2nd irrigation project funded by the Korean Government through the Korea Export-Import (KEXIM) Bank. The Government of South Korea will be funding 8.9 billion pesos through its Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF). The Government of the Philippines' counterpart is 2.2 billion pesos.

JRMP II includes the construction of three dams: a 109-meter high dam, a 38-meter afterbay dam across the Jalaur River, and a catch dam in Alibunan River. An 80-kilometer high line canal will also be constructed to deliver irrigation water from the dams to the rice paddies.

Branded as "Katuwang sa Kauswagan" or "Partner in Progress", JRMP will be the first large-scale reservoir outside Luzon. The project is expected to provide tremendous economic benefits through the delivery of year-round irrigation water to 9,500 hectares of new irrigable areas and rehabilitation of 22,340 hectares covered by five existing irrigation systems in 23 municipalities and two cities in the Province of Iloilo, benefiting 22,000 farmers and their families.

The project is also expected to provide 17,000 employment opportunities during the project implementation. Upon completion, rice production will increase from 3.6 to 5 metric tons per hectare. It will likewise provide other incidental benefits such as development of eco-cultural tourism, fish culture, flood mitigation, and watershed management. Furthermore, 6.6 megawatts of hydroelectric power and bulk water supply for domestic and industrial use of 1 CMS will be later implemented. Indeed, a great economic game-changer in the Province of Iloilo and a milestone in the Philippine agricultural sector.

NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya and Ilonggo Senator Franklin M. Drilon led the groundbreaking and capsule-laying, together with Minister-Counselor Sunyoung Kim of the South Korean Embassy, Senior Executive Director Deog-yong Shin of Korea Export-Import Bank, Daewoo Executive Director Park Chan Yong, Iloilo Provincial Governor Arthur D. Defensor, Sr., and Regional/Project Manager Gerardo P. Corsiga, and witnessed by some National and Local Government officials, as well as the project beneficiaries and NIA employees.

Korean construction firm, Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd., will implement the project.

In his message, Administrator Visaya said, "With our persistence and hard work, we have laid the cornerstone which formally signifies the beginning of the physical undertakings of this project. Ang Jalaur River Multipurpose Project, ito po ay para sa inyo. Ginagawa namin ito sapagkat alam namin na napakalaki ng maidudulot nito sa inyong kabuhayan, gayundin sa lalawigan ng Iloilo at sa buong bansa.”

The Administrator also emphasized that the Agency doesn't want further delays in its irrigation projects because delays in the project implementation mean injustice to the farmer-beneficiaries.

NIA, as the lead government agency mandated to develop all possible sources of water for irrigation, remains dedicated on its mandate of providing efficient, reliable, and sustainable irrigation service to the Filipino farmers through the construction, rehabilitation, restoration, and maintenance of irrigation systems nationwide.

NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya (2-L) and Senator Franklin M. Drlion (3-L) lead the Groundbreaking and Capsule-Laying Ceremony of the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Stage II (JRMP II) in Calinog, Iloilo, together with Minister-Counselor Sunyoung Kim of the South Korean Embassy (Middle), Senior Executive Director Deog-yong Shin of Korea Export-Import Bank (5-L), Daewoo Executive Director Park Chan Yong (5-R), Iloilo Provincial Governor Arthur D. Defensor, Sr. (4-L), and other executives from Korea Export-Import Bank and Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd.

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

PILIPINA P. BERMUDEZ, CESE
Department Manager A
NIA Public Affairs and Information Staff
E-mail: vparamio@yahoo.com
Mobile: 0995 251 7847
Landline: 921-3741

NIA acquires P154.7-M light and transport equipment

March 5, 2019, 10:58 AM

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) acquires 91 units of light and transport equipment worth P154.7 million for use in the monitoring and evaluation of the status of on-going construction and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) activities. The acquisition of light/transport equipment is in line with the Four-Point Agenda of Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, particularly in instituting measures to improve the delivery of services, such as but not limited to, modernization of equipment for operations and project implementation.

In a simple turnover ceremony on March 01, 2019 at the NIA Grounds, the light/transport equipment was turned over by the winning bidder, Nissan Philippines and Mantrade, to NIA Top Management witnessed by Central Office Department Managers and employees.

The purchase of light/transport and heavy equipment constitutes the three-year re-fleeting program of the Agency from CY 2017. For CY 2017, NIA purchased 34 units of light/transport vehicles and 17 units of heavy equipment. 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 are set for procurement this 2019.

As of December 31, 2017, NIA maintained in operating condition 3,245 units of heavy, light/transport, other support, and special equipment in support to the operations and maintenance of irrigation systems nationwide. Of these, the Agency has a total of 383 existing heavy equipment. Out of which, only 23 units are in good operating condition while the remaining 360 units are very old, less reliable, and operating intermittently. Thus, the three-year re-fleeting program is expected to make NIA operations more efficient and reliable.

NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya (3-L) receives the 91 service vehicle keys from Nissan Philippines and Mantrade Fleet Sales Executive Mike Lopez (middle) during the Ceremonial Turnover of P154.7-million light and transport equipment as part of the Agency’s Three-Year Re-fleeting Program, together with NIA Senior Deputy Administrator Abraham B. Bagasin (2-L), NIA Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Romeo G. Gan (outermost left), and other Mantrade executives.

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

PILIPINA P. BERMUDEZ, CESE
Department Manager A
NIA Public Affairs and Information Staff
E-mail: vparamio@yahoo.com
Mobile: 0995 251 7847
Landline: 921-3741

NIA files second formal charge to ombudsman

March 14, 2019, 4:47 PM

NIA Central Office – Recently, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has filed a graft and corruption case against retired regional officials for alleged anomalies in irrigation project implementation. The move aims for the Ombudsman to conduct further investigation and filing of formal charges to the involved officials if warranted.

In the past few months, four (4) NIA officials were already dismissed and seven (7) were suspended for committing various irregularities and criminal liability in project implementation. On the other hand, nine (9) were relieved from their respective assignments in the field offices and are now under investigation at the Central Office.

The eradication of graft and corruption is foremost in the Four-Point Agenda of NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya. The Agency has been taking immediate actions in response to the alleged anomalies/irregularities among its officials and employees nationwide. For this measure, Administrator Visaya created an Inspection and Assessment Team to monitor all NIA projects, validate all queries and complaints in relation to the projects, assist concerned NIA officials and personnel, and address issues in order to fast-track all pending projects. This includes reforms in governance and immediate conduct of pertinent measures against the vicious cycle of graft and corruption in Philippine government.

While keeping an eye on its officials and employees, this is also to warn those using the name of the Central Office for extortion purposes. NIA, likewise, warns local government officials who hinder and attempt to defer its project implementation as violative to Republic Act No. 3019 or “Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act”.

Meanwhile, NIA has filed a case to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) against a former Barangay Captain in Pangasinan for grave threat and grave coercion to our officials and employees while in the performance of bidding on government projects in the said province.

NIA remains committed to the mandate of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte to “Do what is right and what is legal”. The Agency ensures that transparency is always secured so that the completion of irrigation projects would be in accordance to the desired quality and on time or even ahead of its schedule because delays in project implementation mean injustice to the farmer-beneficiaries.

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

PILIPINA P. BERMUDEZ, CESE
Department Manager A
NIA Public Affairs and Information Staff
E-mail: vparamio@yahoo.com
Mobile: 0995 251 7847
Landline: 921-3741