WATCH: NIA invites all interested investors to venture into aquaculture development at the Pantabangan Reservoir, Barangay Conversion, Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija.

Know more about Pantabangan Dam’s great potential for aquaculture production by watching this video.

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Meet the new Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).

On August 9, 2023, NIA Deputy Administrator Robert Victor G. Seares, Jr. took his Oath of Office before Executive Secretary Lucas P. Bersamin at the Malacañang Palace, San Miguel, Manila.

Let us know him with these 10 amazing facts.

Nueva Ecija- Presided by Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development Dr. Leocadio S. Sebastian, the Rice Industry Stakeholders Engagement (RISE) Meeting was conducted on July 27-28, 2023.

NIA OIC-Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector Engr. Josephine B. Salazar led the Department, Regional, Project Managers, and selected NIA key personnel  in attending the first-day meeting  at  the Philippine Rice  Research Institute (PhilRice), Science City of Muñoz.

The discussion concentrated on the preparation and strategies to mitigate the forecasted El Niño through convergence initiatives, formulate action plan for convergence in the Irrigators Associations (IAs), Agrarian Reform Beneficiaries Organizations (ARBOs), Small Water Irrigation System Associations (SWISAs), and Farmers Cooperative and Associations (FCAs), discuss guidelines for linking clusters to markets, and Public-Private Partnership, among others.

Undersecretary Sebastian emphasized that the targeted 1M hectares that will provide 8 million tons per hectare are located in the CISs and NISs of NIA, and if achieved, the 97.5% rice self-sufficiency goal of President Bongbong Marcos will be realized. However, there must be a strong working convergence between the Department of Agriculture (DA) agencies and other government entities.

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) recorded P3.520-billion partial typhoon damages to crops and irrigation infrastructures brought about by the onslaught of Typhoon Egay. As of July 31, 2023, a total of 69,432 farmers were affected, cultivating 43,875.55 hectares of agricultural land nationwide.

Typhoon Egay, known internationally as Doksuri, made its landfall over Fuga Island in Aparri, Cagayan at 3:10 a.m. local time on Wednesday, July 26, 2023. The typhoon, which brought heavy rains, caused widespread flooding and landslides across several regions of the country, most especially in Northern Luzon. As of the latest Situational Report of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), the weather disturbance affected 13 regions, 47 provinces, 441 cities/municipalities and 4,111 barangays.

According to the consolidated report of the NIA Operations Department, regions CAR, I, II, III, IV-A, IV-B, and Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (UPRIIS) reported significant damages by the typhoon. As of July 31, 2023, the damages caused by ‘Egay’ amounted to P2.415-billion for crops and P1.105-billion for irrigation infrastructures. Some of the damages in irrigation facilities include washed out structures, embankment, canal lining, and protection works, among others.

 
Quezon City – President Ferdinand “Bongbong R. Marcos Jr. have set forth his plans and programs to improve the country and recalled the challenges encountered and continue to face as he delivered his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 24, 2023 at the House of Representatives, Constitution Hills.

In his speech, the optimal growth of the country’s agricultural sector was one of the highlights. He emphasized the 2.2% increase in the agricultural sector for the first three months of the year (2023) and strategies to lift local agricultural production. “Katuwang natin dito ang buong sektor ng agrikultura at ang lokal na pamahalaan”, he said.

As part of the agricultural transformation, President Marcos also highlighted his tactic in the country’s quest for food security. Resulting to more sustainable and responsible yield benefiting current and future generations, procedures are now guided by science and the balance of nature.

 
NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is prepared for the impending El Niño phenomenon as NIA Field Offices nationwide already crafted their respective El Niño Action Plan. It contains different mitigating measures, such as water delivery schedule, utilization of Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) Technology, Diversification of Crops, and the use of early maturing and drought-resistant crop varieties.

Through convergence with other national government agencies (NGAs), namely, the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), other national government agencies (NGAs) involved in the agricultural sector and disaster management, Local Government Units (LGUs), Irrigators Associations (IAs), and the general public, NIA remains confident that our country can overcome all challenges that the El Niño phenomenon can bring.

 
NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Board of Directors approved the further development and implementation of the three (3) priority irrigation projects for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) during the 992^nd NIA Regular Board Meeting on June 29, 2023 at the NIA Board Room, 3^rd Floor, Building B, NIA Central Office. The projects identified on this endeavor are Ilocos Norte-Ilocos Sur-Abra Irrigation Project II (INISAIP II), Tumauini River Multipurpose Project (TRMP), and Upper Banaoang Irrigation Project.

Following the signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between NIA and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center on its partnership 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, joint technical groups were formed and evaluated the initial 12 potential irrigation projects for PPP implementation. With PPP Center’s assessment and prioritization of projects for PPP, three priority projects were identified – INISAIP II, TRMP, and the Upper Banaoang Irrigation Project.

 
NIA Central Office – President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., as concurrent Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary, presides the Convergence Meeting for Masagana Rice Industry Development Program (MRIDP) on May 31, 2023 at NIA Conventional Hall, 5^th Floor, DCIEC Building, NIA Central Office.

Together with the various heads of agencies, National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Acting Administrator Engr. Eddie G. Guillen expressed his support to the agricultural industry’s thrust toward food sufficiency and food security as the NIA remains committed to its mandate of providing quality irrigation services nationwide.

As Food Security is the top-notch priority in the President’s 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda, the Department of Agriculture’s Masagana Rice Industry Development Program was formulated with the objective of raising the level of production of important commodities including rice and strengthening the value chain from the farmers up to the consumers. The convergence initiative aimed to pool resources, share knowledge, and coordinate efforts to achieve sustainable rice production and uplift the lives of our farmers by increasing their income.

 
NIA Central Office – NIA Acting Administrator Engr. Eddie G. Guillen, NIA Senior Deputy Administrator Engr. Robert C. Suguitan, China Power Engineering Consulting Group International Engineering Co., Ltd. (CPECC INTL.) Vice President Zhao Jiang, and Ocean Eagle Energy Philippines, Inc. (OEEPI) President Atty. Celestino Gerald L. Cabrera signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for efficient implementation of the Panay River Basin Integrated Development Project on May 15, 2023 at NIA Administrator’s Conference Room, 2^nd Floor, Building B.

NIA’s mandate includes the construction of multipurpose water resources projects designed primarily for irrigation and secondarily for hydroelectric power development. Among the programmed projects of the Agency is the Panay River Basin Integrated Development Project which is on the process of validating/reformulation of its Feasibility Study (FS) simultaneous with Detailed Engineering (DE).

Having the technical capacity and experience to develop infrastructure projects, OEEPI offered to work with NIA on the development of the said project. This covers from updating and validating of FS to providing the necessary technical and commercial support to secure the project’s approval from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and Department of Finance (DOF). It aims to expedite the process and ensure the successful project implementation.

 
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.