April 2023

NIA officially opens its...

20 Apr 2023 - 1:24pm

IRRIGATION PROJECT IN...

25 Apr 2023 - 2:25pm

NIA officially opens its doors to PPP

April 20, 2023, 1:24 PM

NIA Central Office – The collaboration between the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center to maximize the utilization of NIA’s assets and irrigation projects has officially started as NIA Acting Administrator Engr. Eddie G. Guillen and PPP Center Executive Director Ma. Cynthia Hernandez signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on March 29, 2023 at NIA Convention Hall, 5^th Floor, DCIEC Building.

The partnership of NIA and PPP Center aims to maximize the technical services of the latter in terms of NIA’s capacity-building for the utilization of various PPP modalities for irrigation projects, to obtain the optimal value of NIA’s resources through PPP, and to engage on other financial and revenue-generating activities that will strengthen the Agency’s viability as a government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC).

As of December 31, 2021, NIA recorded 65.28% of the total 3.12 million hectares of irrigable land nationwide. With around 1 million hectares remaining to be developed, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. aims to revitalize the country’s irrigation sector. Thus, NIA eyes Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to fast-track irrigation development which will further sustain the irrigation needs of greater Filipino farmers and will ultimately answer the President's call to strengthen food security.

Based on NIA’s data as of March 29, 2023, the Agency has identified 50 potential projects for PPP with seven revenue streams, namely, hydroelectric power, solar power, aquaculture, wind energy, bulk water supply, water treatment, and carbon credits. PPP is not new in NIA. The Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project (CMIPP) located in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija is a PPP project implemented by NIA. The project generates electricity through the 150-megawatt hydroelectric power plant and divert water through a 26.27-kilometer underground tunnel into the Pantabangan Reservoir.

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Assistant Secretary and NIA Board Member Roderick M. Planta, PPP Center Deputy Executive Director Eleazar Ricote, PPP Center Directors Ms. Joanne Babon and Mr. John Dominic Zafe, NIA Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector Engr. C’zar M. Sulaik, Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Ralph Lauren A. Du, NIA Central Office Department and Division Managers, and other officials from PPP Center are present in the event.

#bayaNIAn
#TuloyAngDaloyNIA
#NIA

For inquiries and/or clarifications, you may contact:

EDEN VICTORIA C. SELVA
Department Manager A
NIA Public Affairs and Information Staff
Email: pais@nia.gov.ph
Landline: (02) 8921-3741

From left to right: PPP Center Director Ms. Joanne Babon, PPP Center Deputy Executive Director Eleazar Ricote, PPP Center Executive Director Ma. Cynthia Hernandez, NIA Acting Administrator Engr. Eddie G. Guillen, NEDA Assistant Secretary and NIA Board Member Roderick M. Planta, NIA Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector Engr. C’zar M. Sulaik, and Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Ralph Lauren A. Du during the MOA Signing between NIA and PPP Center on March 29, 2023 at NIA Convention Hall, 5^th Floor, DCIEC Building

NIA Acting Administrator Engr. Eddie G. Guillen signs the MOA that signifies the Agency’s Partnership with PPP Center on irrigation development.

PPP Center Executive Director Ma. Cynthia Hernandez signs the MOA with NIA that signifies their partnership with NIA on irrigation development.

MOA Signing between NIA and PPP Center on March 29, 2023 at NIA Convention Hall, 5^th Floor, DCIEC Building

IRRIGATION PROJECT IN PIKIT, NORTH COTABATO: FROM WAR ZONE TO ECONOMIC ZONE

April 25, 2023, 2:25 PM

NIA Region XII – In support to the President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. battlecry for unity to achieve lasting peace that paves the way for national progress and the Department of Agriculture (DA) Food Security Program, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Acting Administrator Engr. Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen visited the Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project - Phase II (MMIP II) at Liguasan Marsh, Pikit, North Cotabato on February 10, 2023, an area rarely visited by national government officials.

Together with Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector Engr. C’zar M. Sulaik and NIA Region XII officials, Acting Administrator Guillen personally looked into the project site and talked to its residents on the positive impacts upon the completion of MMIP II in their way of living. He later on met with the Irrigators Association (IA) Presidents and members of the project wherein the NIA Chief highlighted the importance of the farmer-irrigators’ support and cooperation in the realization of the MMIP II.

Through MMIP II, the NIA intends to provide livelihood opportunities to the people of Pikit who are mostly members of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (BIAF) and outside the current programmed areas by providing Ring Dikes to prevent flooding during heavy flood flow of Pulangi River and the rising water of Liguasan Marsh. Also, installation of Solar Sump Pumps along the dike to pump out run-off water from the upper service area is eyed that at the same time will provide irrigation water to the dried-up area with a convertible facility for proper water management and agricultural production. Once proven effective, the same will be replicated in the fertile agricultural areas along the perimeter of Liguasan Marsh that will ultimately transform the war zone areas into economic zones of Southern Mindanao.

With 88.06% overall physical accomplishment as of January 15, 2023, the P5.133-billion MMIP II with 9,528-hectare service area aims to see significant changes in the municipalities of Pikit and Aleosan in the Province of North Cotabato and the municipalities of Pagalungan and Datu Montawal in the Province of Maguindanao under BARMM by providing sustainable development to the 2,802 farmers and their families.

Aside from increasing the rice production and attaining food sufficiency in the area, the project intends to achieve and sustain peace and order in the region through social and agricultural development. The completion of this peace building irrigation project will not only improve the lives of the farmers, but also transform its areas into then battle fields to peaceful agricultural fields.

Another proof that the NIA, headed by Acting Administrator Eddie G. Guillen, braves and pursues the construction of its irrigation projects contributing to continuous agricultural growth and uplifting the lives of the Filipino farmers.