Ang Pambansang Pangasiwaan ng Patubig (National Irrigation Administration) ay kaisa ng bayan sa pagdiriwang ng Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa ngayong Agosto 2020 na may temang “Wika ng Kasaysayan, Kasaysayan ng Wika: Ang mga Katutubong Wika sa Maka-Filipinong Bayanihan Kontra Pandemya”.

Lubos na kinikilala ng Ahensya ang mga programa ng Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) upang maipalaganap sa higit na nakararaming mamamayan ang kamalayan sa pagdiriwang at kahalagahan ng Wikang Filipino, gayundin ang mga hakbang ng pamahalaan upang maiwasan ang paglaganap ng pandemya sa bansa.

Ang pagdiriwang ay alinsunod sa itinakda ng Proklamasyon Bilang 1041, taong 1997, na nagpapahayag ng taunang Buwan ng Wikang Pambasa tuwing Agosto 1-31.

NIA Central Office – Heeding the call of the National Government to strengthen the viability of Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is embarking on the benefits of developing more floating solar and hydroelectric power projects on its existing irrigation systems and future irrigation projects nationwide.

According to the studies conducted by the Agency, there are a total of 379 identified potential hydroelectric power sites nationwide as contribution in providing resources for renewable energy, as well as in maximizing the utilization of irrigation water. Among the potential sites for hydropower development, four (4) are already operational. These are the 8.5-megawatt (MW) MARIS Main (South) Canal Hydroelectric Power in Isabela, 1.0-MW Rizal Hydropower Plant in Nueva Ecija, 1.0-MW Bulanao Mini-Hydropower Plant in Kalinga, and 500-kilowatt (kW) Marbel #1 MHPP in South Cotabato. While NIA encourages this undertaking, one of the conditions set by NIA is that the project should not, in any way, obstruct irrigation water delivery as the primordial service of the Agency.

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), represented by Senior Deputy Administrator Abraham B. Bagasin, and EMME Environmental Solutions, Inc. (EESI), represented by Chairman Edgar B. Aglipay, signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the development of Hydrokinetic Power Project on Magat Canals located in Ramon, Isabela on July 17, 2020 at NIA Administrator’s Conference Room, 2^nd Floor, Building A.

Under the memorandum, EESI has signified its intention to pursue the development of hydropower plant through the installment of hydrokinetic turbines on seven irrigation canals of Magat River Integrated Irrigation System. The undertaking is at no cost to NIA.

The memorandum guaranteed that the conduct of feasibility study and installation of demo units of hydrokinetic turbines in MARIIS irrigation canals, with written authorization from MARIIS officials concerned, will not disrupt the operation and maintenance of MARIIS irrigation canals. The memorandum is effective for a non-extendible period of one year.

NIA Central Office – In light of recent developments of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) immediately adhered to the necessary protocols of subjecting all Central Office employees to Rapid Antibody-Based Test at Veterans Memorial Medical Center on June 24, 2020.

Following this action, the entire NIA Central Office was locked down on July 01, 2020 to pave way for disinfection activities and installation of office protective coverings to prevent and control the spread of the virus. All employees, excluding essential personnel, are also placed under 14-Day Quarantine while adopting Work-from-Home Arrangement. In addition, face shields, face masks, hygiene kits, and multivitamins to employees, and Ultraviolet (UV) Disinfecting Germicidal Sterilizer Light per office were provided by the Agency.

As of July 08, 2020, a total of 640 NIA employees and personnel already underwent Rapid Testing. Six hundred twenty-nine (629) of which tested negative, while 10 personnel who tested IgM Positive were subjected to Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) Test/Swab Testing. To date, NIA has a total of seven (7) confirmed cases with three (3) recoveries and zero (0) death.

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) set the green light for the construction of the P893-million Balbalungao Earthfill Dam on July 2, 2020 in Lupao, Nueva Ecija amidst the present COVID-19 pandemic.

With strict compliance with Minimum Public Health Standards, NIA Administrator Ricardo R Visaya led the Agency’s first groundbreaking and capsule laying ceremony after the government declared lockdown since March due to COVID-19. “The conduct of the groundbreaking is the symbol of openization of the envisioned project that will bring hope to those who would benefit the most from it,” he said in his message.

Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei B. Nograles, who served as the event's Guest of Honor and Speaker delivered his speech through a pre-recorded video. He acknowledged the importance of NIA’s mandate to help improve the well-being of our farmers in the New Normal to ensure irrigation in the continuity of farming. "Today’s groundbreaking while in quarantine is our declaration that our work continues, and that it continues with greater sear to overcome and prove that COVID-19 did not get the better of us. Instead, we will rise from this crisis like we Filipinos always do,” he remarked.

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) ensures timely and efficient implementation of its big-ticket irrigation projects, namely 1) P11.212-billion Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Stage II (JRMP II) in Calinog, Iloilo which broke ground on February 27, 2019, 2) P4.37-billion Chico River Pump Irrigation Project (CRPIP) in Pinukpuk, Kalinga which broke ground on August 08, 2018, and 3) Tarlac Balog-Balog Multipurpose Project Phase II (TBBMP II) located in San Jose, Tarlac which broke ground on July 18, 2017.

As of May 31, 2020, JRMP II Project Management Office reported an actual project accomplishment of 27.98 percent against the target of 24.65. JRMP II is NIA's 8th big ticket irrigation project under the “Build, Build, Build” Program of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the first large-scale reservoir outside Luzon. The project 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.

NIA MIMAROPA – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has started the installation of the P3.557-million Isumbo Pump Irrigation Project (Isumbo PIP), the first solar-powered irrigation pump in Barangay Isumbo, Sofronio Española, Palawan. The project implementation commenced on May 29, 2020 after being awarded to the Contractor, Reinastar Trading and Construction Supply.

Isumbo PIP covers the installation of a solar-powered pump, pump house, control panel, accessories, and 0.399 kilometers of canal lining to be completed in 120 calendar days. With 3728.5 watts or five horsepower (hp) submersible pump motor capable to produce 100 gallons of water per minute (gpm), the project is expected to sufficiently irrigate 10 hectares of agricultural lands in the barangay, benefitting 13 farmers and their families.

The completion of the project can help diversify agricultural production. It was designed as an energy-efficient project that has the ability to pump up water from the source to an elevated storage tank and releases by gravity directly to irrigated areas.

Calambiringan Irrigators Association (IA) President Jeanie G. Denzon said that farming will be difficult without irrigation, especially during dry season in Sitio Calabano.

NIA Central Office - In light of recent developments, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) implements a lockdown considering that as of June 30, 2020, the Agency has recorded three confirmed cases of COVID-19, although the said employees are not reporting to work since June 11, 2020 and June 19, 2020.

For the period of July 01-07, 2020, NIA Central Office will adopt Work-from-Home Arrangement, while essential personnel will continue to report for work as necessary. Following this arrangement, for the period of July 08-14, 2020, NIA Central Office will implement a combination of Skeleton Workforce and Work-from-Home Arrangement.

After the recently reported COVID-19 case, NIA immediately adhered to the necessary protocols of subjecting all Central Office employees to Rapid Testing. All employees who underwent the first batch of test at Veterans Memorial Medical Center turned out to be negative. However, there were a number of employees who tested positive had to undergo further tests.

Meanwhile, disinfection of vehicles, buildings, and premises, and installation of office protective coverings were conducted to prevent and control the spread of the virus. Similarly, face shields, face masks, hygiene kits, and multivitamins for employees, and Ultraviolet (UV) Disinfecting Germicidal Sterilizer Light per office were provided by the Agency.

NIA Region III – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), headed by Administrator Ricardo R Visaya, and the Provincial Government of Bulacan, headed by Governor Daniel R. Fernando, conducted an ocular inspection of Angat Afterbay Regulator Dam (Bustos Dam) located at Barangay Tibagan, Bustos, Bulacan on June 09, 2020 after the recently reported collapse of the Rubber Gate No. 5.

Upon site inspection, a meeting was held among the officials of NIA, Provincial Government of Bulacan, and ITP Construction, Inc. – Guangxi Hydroelectric Construction Bureau Co., Ltd. Consortium (Contractor) to discuss matters arising from the incident.

Since the replacement of the rubber bladder is part of the 20-year warranty period policy from 2017 to 2037, a cofferdam is now being constructed by the Contractor, without any cost to NIA, to ensure that irrigation will be provided and the farming activities of the farmers will not be hampered. Completion of the said cofferdam is due on July 15, 2020.

To further guarantee the integrity of the rubber bladder, a material testing will be undertaken by a third party contractor either in Singapore or Australia and will be carried out by July. All six rubber bladders of Bustos Dam were agreed to be replaced as permanent solution to its damages.

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has conducted an immediate site inspection and investigation of the reported damage on Rubber Bladder No. 5 of Angat Afterbay Regulator Dam (AARD) located at Barangay Tibagan, Bustos, Bulacan on May 13, 2020 after NIA Regional Office No. III sought technical assistance from NIA Central Office.

The action was taken as a result of a meeting called by Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector C’zar M. Sulaik on May 12, 2020 via Zoom Application, which was attended by the concerned personnel from Engineering Department, Regional Office, and Bulacan-Aurora-Nueva Ecija Irrigation Management Office (BANE IMO).

During the meeting, it was discussed that the rubber materials have passed the testing conducted by Beijing Research and Development Institute (BRDI) on April 24-26, 2017, as requested by the Contractor, ITP Construction, Inc. – Guangxi Hydroelectric Construction Bureau Co., Ltd. Consortium. To ensure the conformity of materials with the NIA Technical specifications, the Agency conducted Pre-Delivery Inspection as part of the Quality Control Program for the Rehabilitation of AARD.