Amidst El Niño phenomenon, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) remains steadfast in providing sustainable irrigation service to the Filipino farmers, especially in Mindanao.

Under the leadership of Administrator Engr. Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen, NIA successfully implemented the P5.133-billion MMIP-II located in Barangay Villarica, Midsayap, North Cotabato. As of March 2024, the project recorded an overall weighted physical accomplishment (OWPA) of 99.56%. A series of test runs on the completed canal structures in the Lower Malitubog Service Area was conducted on March 18, 2024. It aims to test the readiness and operating condition of the structures before it will be turned over to its farmer-beneficiaries.

With water source from the Maridagao River, MMIP-II covers 9,528 hectares of agricultural land in the Municipality of Aleosan, North Cotabato, and the towns of Pangalungan and Datu Montawal in Maguindanao del Sur under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The project has 4,043 farmer-beneficiaries.

Guided by the battlecry of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. for unity to achieve lasting peace and national progress, Administrator Guillen advocates bayanihan and personally talked to the residents about the positive impacts of MMIP-II completion in their livelihood. He met with the IA presidents and members and highlighted the importance of IAs’ support and cooperation towards the realization of the project.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) takes immense pride in announcing the approval of its new Design-and-Build (DB) Procurement Guidelines for Irrigation Infrastructure Projects.

The approval of the NIA Board on this strategic instrument on March 21, 2024, marks a significant milestone in the agency’s commitment to fostering efficiency, transparency, and innovation of the organization to contribute to the BUILD BETTER MORE Program of the Marcos Jr. Administration.

Designed to streamline the infrastructure development and procurement processes while ensuring optimal quality and cost-effectiveness, these guidelines embody the NIA’s unwavering dedication to modernize irrigation systems across the nation. With these enhancements, the agency aims to address the evolving needs of the agricultural sector and propel sustainable development in rural communities, achieving a significant increase in the quality of life of Filipino farmers.

The approved of the DB Guidelines is anchored on the provisions of RA 9184 otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act specifically Annex G of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The DB Guidelines of NIA was also benchmarked with that of DPWH, ensuring that the NIA leverages on the successful experiences of DPWH in the past several years.

About the DB Procurement Approach:

On March 15, 2024, the Francis Domingo Nitura (FDN) Integrated Farm proudly hosted its Harvest Day World Breaking Rice Project 2024, a groundbreaking event that aimed to challenge the existing Asian record for crop harvesting that took place at the FDN Farm located in Ballesteros, Aurora, Isabela. 

Led by Baluarte's Irrigators Association (IA) President, Mr. Francisco Domingo Nitura himself, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) along with its Central Office and the NIA Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA MARIIS) were present to witness the event. FDN served as a service area under NIA MARIIS Division 3, further underscoring the significance of the occasion.

NIA Central Office – A total of 82 solar power-driven pump irrigation projects were completed nationwide by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) headed by Administrator Engr. Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen in 2023.

For CY 2023, there are 150 potential irrigation sites for solar power-driven amounting to Php 1,654,583,000. Of which, NIA already completed the construction of 82 solar power-driven pump irrigation projects amounting to Php 667,957,000 as of December 31, 2023. These projects provide reliable irrigation water supply to 866 hectares of agricultural land nationwide benefitting 1,061 farmers and their families.

As President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. stresses the urgency to institute measures for the impact of the El Niño phenomenon, the NIA looks into harnessing the potential benefits of renewable energy sources in providing irrigation service to help address depleting water supply due to El Niño.

Through solar power-driven pump irrigation projects, the NIA sees that solar irrigation projects can augment the decreasing irrigation water supply from dams and reservoirs during this phenomenon. This innovative technology can also be used in areas where the construction of dams may not be feasible. In installing more solar power-driven pump irrigation projects, these can aid Filipino farmers to boost their harvests.

NIA Central Office – OIC Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector and concurrent NIA Region III Manager Engr. Josephine B. Salazar led the conduct of the Turnover of Completed Projects, Irrigators Association (IA) Consultation, and Contract Signing of the Bulacan Irrigation Management Office (IMO) on February 26, 2024 at NIA Region III Covered Court, Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan.

Joined by the Provincial Government and Local Government Units (LGUs) officials of Bulacan, NIA Region III Bulacan IMO turned over 16 completed projects to its IAs such as the BUSPAN Solar Pump Irrigation Project in Bustos, Repair and Rehabilitation of Angat-Maasim River Irrigation System (AMRIS) in San Rafael, ANBUSPA Solar Pump Irrigation Project in Bustos, Alagao Communal Irrigation System (CIS) in San Ildefonso, Cacarong CIS in Pandi, Maligaya CIS and Sibul CIS in San Miguel. About 15 IAs with 4,466 farmer-beneficiaries will benefit from the CY 2023 completed projects of Bulacan IMO.

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Region III Manager and concurrent OIC Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector Engr. Josephine B. Salazar received the P5-million worth of financial support from Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) for the Bulacan Irrigation Management Office (Bulacan IMO) on February 21, 2024 at NIA Region III Office, Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan.

Maynilad personally handed over the P5 million financial assistance to NIA Region III – Bulacan IMO for its El Niño mitigation program for Bulacan farmers. Bulacan IMO Division Manager Engr. Placida C. Cordero, Engineering and Operations Division Acting Manager Engr. Christian C. Manalo, and Water Control Coordination Unit Francisco J. Clara were also present along with Regional Manager Engr. Josephine B. Salazar.

The financial aid from Maynilad strengthens the NIA’s resilience to El Niño and highlights the value of Public-Private Partnerships in addressing climate-related concerns. This allows the NIA to carry out various initiatives targeted at mitigating El Niño’s impacts on water availability and agricultural productivity. Through this, Bulacan farmers will ultimately benefit from the assistance through the Agency’s plans and programs.

NIA Central Office – The efficient rice supply chain and development of a business-to-business (B2B) online market platform for rice are now more feasible with the Ceremonial Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Integrated Rice Supply Chain Development Program on February 2, 2024 at NIA Matikas Multipurpose Hall.

The participants for the MOU Signing were DA Chief of Staff Atty. Alvin John Balagbag, NIA Acting Administrator Engr. Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen, and DTI Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual. Serving as witnesses were Digital Philippines Undersecretary Mary Jean T. Pacheco and NIA Senior Deputy Administrator Engr. Robert C. Suguitan. NIA Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Robert Victor G. Seares, Jr., NCIA President Remy Albano, Department and Division Managers, and employees were present in the event.

In line with the realization of food sufficiency thrust of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and the Three-Year Food Logistics Action Agenda of DA, DOTr, DPWH, and DILG, the MOU aims to create alternative market access for rice buyers and sellers. It targets to enhance the income of rice farmers through more efficient market and supply chain arrangement, to promote proper rice branding and classification, and to facilitate cooperation in production, marketing, sales, and domestic rice distribution in the market.

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) successfully installed a new Rubber Gate No. 5 at the Angat Afterbay Regulator Dam or most commonly known as Bustos Dam, a run of the river type of dam, located in Barangay Tibagan, Bustos, Bulacan on January 20, 2024.

Preceding the replacement of the new rubber gate, NIA OIC Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector and concurrent NIA Region III Manager Engr. Josephine B. Salazar led the conduct of an inflation and leak testing to further guarantee the integrity of the newly-installed rubber gate.

ITP Construction, Inc. – Guangxi Hydroelectric Construction Bureau Co., Ltd. Consortium (Contractor) replaced the defective rubber gate without any cost to NIA. The five (5) other rubber gates were further inspected to secure its structural integrity.

After the reported damage of the Rubber Gate No. 5 in 2020, the NIA immediately conducted series of actions with the Local Government Unit, Provincial Government of Bulacan, and its Irrigators Association (IA) to address challenges arising from the incident to make sure that irrigation is continuously available and the farming activities of the farmers of the Provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga are not hampered.

With the unwavering support of  President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. in fostering the agricultural sector, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) headed by Acting Administrator Engr. Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen successfully acquired the 141 units of excavator amounting to a total significant investment of  P776 million. These excavators were finally distributed to NIA regional and project offices nationwide.

The simultaneous distribution of equipment signifies another leap for the Agency in gearing up to more productive and efficient operation and maintenance (O&M) activities of irrigation projects all over the country. These units are now being used for desilting and clearing  irrigation canals, filling open spaces and gaps along the canal linings, construction and repair of damaged irrigation facilities and structures especially those that were devastated by natural disasters and calamities.

The heavy equipment acquisition is in line with the Agency’s objective which is “Ensure Efficient and Effective Operation and Maintenance of Irrigation Systems”. Likewise, it is part of the Agency’s Three-Year Refleeting Program which  aims to augment the available units which are mostly have exceeded its economic life, immediately repair or reconstruct canals and other irrigation facilities and undertake the regular operation and maintenance (O&M) of National Irrigation Systems (NISs).      

NIA Central Office - Immediately after the Magnitude 5.2 earthquake in Region VIII on November 20, 2023 and Magnitude 7.6 earthquake on December 2, 2023 in Caraga, NIA Acting Administrator Engr. Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen directed all NIA Regional Managers to conduct inventory and assessment of damages to irrigation infrastructures.

Based on the partial report submitted by NIA to the Office of DA Assistant Secretary for Operations dated December 13, 2023, the total estimated cost of damage/repair of infrastructure reached ₱109,493,000.00. It affected 7,241 hectares of agricultural land with 5,424 farmer-beneficiaries.

In Region VIII, the initial estimated cost of damages of Magnitude 5.2 earthquake was ₱46,000.00 in Samar National Irrigation Project (NIP), affecting 71 farmers tilling 271 hectares of farmland. The said irrigation project requires Emergency Works or remedial measures to immediately restore the service area and save the standing crops.