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.

NIA Region VI – The construction of the P664.75-million Bayuyan Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (Bayuyan SRIP) officially started as NIA Acting Administrator Engr. Eddie G. Guillen led the Groundbreaking and Capsule-Laying Ceremony of the project on March 16, 2023 at the Gatekeeper’s Quarters, Barangay Bayuyan, President Roxas, Capiz.

As the biggest irrigation project of NIA in the Province of Capiz by far, Bayuyan SRIP covers 594 hectares of agricultural land on eight barangays in the Municipality of President Roxas, namely, Bayuyan, Badiangon, Culilang, Goce, Carmencita, Cubay, Ibaca, and Sto. Niño. With 540 farmer-beneficiaries, the project is expected to be completed by December 2025. Aside from the provision of year-round irrigation to the local farming communities, the project will provide other incidental benefits, such as flood control, environmental and watershed management, agro-tourism promotion, and aquaculture development, among others.

In his message, Administrator Guillen solicited the support of all stakeholders toward the success of the project. He emphasized that the project reflects the undying commitment of NIA to fast-track irrigation development and to uplift the lives of greater Filipino farmers.

NIA Region XII – The National Irrigation Administration, under the leadership of Acting Administrator Engr. Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen, fast-tracks the completion of the Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project – Stage II (MMIP-II) in the Municipality of Pikit, North Cotabato. Despite numerous challenges on peace and order, security, and natural calamities, the project is expected to be completed by December 2023.

Originally, MMIP was a P3.1-billion irrigation covering 13 barangays in Cotabato and four (4) barangays in Maguindanao with a target area of 10,840 hectares to benefit 4,549 farmer-beneficiaries. The project was intended as a peace-building measure and as a catalyst to improve the lives of the farmers and other stakeholders.

With the completion of the MMIP Phase I, a total of 5,562 hectares in Maridagao service area and 1,611 hectares in Upper Malitubog service area have been provided with irrigation service. With its significant socioeconomic benefits and opportunities through job generation from project implementation stage to agricultural production stage, the project was instrumental in transforming the previously war zone area to an economic zone.

NIA Central Office - The Association of the Regional Directors and Operations Managers of the Philippines (ARDOMA), Inc. held its conference in Ilocos Norte, Region I on February 23-26, 2023. The four-day activity was commenced by a meeting conducted at the Plaza del Norte Hotel and Convention Center, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. The highlight of the conference was the visit made by the ARDOMA, Inc. led by its President, Engr. Jimmy Apostol, to the Municipality of Piddig, Ilocos Norte. No other than the former chief executive of Piddig, currently, the NIA Acting Administrator, Engr. Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen, toured the group and unraveled the humble beginnings of their municipality. 

Piddig, Ilocos Norte, a third-class municipality is nestled along a foothill offering panoramic views of fields and mountains. A once sleepy town known too as the historic town of Basi (sugar cane wine) revolt, Piddig was conferred recognition as Galing Pook Awardee at the Malacañang Palace, last November 22, 2022, a prestigious award of the country’s top performing local government units.

San Miguel, Manila – Witnessed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., NIA Acting Administrator Engr. Eddie G. Guillen signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with other government officials and Go Negosyo heads on the Kapatid Angat Lahat for Agriculture Program (KALAP) on March 6, 2023 at the Malacañang Palace Ceremonial Hall.

As a public-private sector partnership initiative, KALAP aims to promote inclusive economic growth using Go Negosyo’s framework of providing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) access to money, markets, and mentoring.

Together with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) with Go Negosyo heads, National Tobacco Administration (NTA), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), the MOA Signing symbolizes the strong partnership of the public and private sectors to empower and scale up support for nation-building through the value chain integration of our country’s MSMEs, farmers, and fisherfolks to become more productive, profitable, sustainable, and globally competitive.

NIA Central Office – At last, after several dialogues and negotiations with the Bugkalot Indigenous Cultural Community/Indigenous Peoples (ICC/IPs) affected by the Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project (CMIPP) in the Provinces of Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya, the decades-long lingering issue involving the Bugkalots and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has finally ended.

Under the leadership of Acting Administrator Engr. Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen, the Bugkalot Indigenous Cultural Community/Indigenous Peoples voluntarily opened the barricades to the CMIPP in Barangay Pelaway, Alfonso Castañeda, Nueva Vizcaya on February 13, 2023 after the successful negotiation among the Bugkalot Ancestral Domain Environmental Management Council (BADEMC), Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM), and the NIA, with the assistance of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).

Prior to this, the impacted Bugkalots received the advance payment of Disturbance Fee from the NIA and PSALM pursuant to the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for Corporate Social Responsibility. This is part of the NIA and the Bugkalot IPs agreements to finally settle concerns and requests over the operation of the CMIPP situated within their ancestral domain. Continuing coordination between the NIA and the BADEMC is ongoing to ensure resolution to all issues surrounding the Bugkalots and CMIPP.

NIA Central Office – In less than a month after the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Acting Administrator Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen took the lead to convene with the elders and members of the Bugkalot Indigenous Cultural Community/Indigenous Peoples affected by the Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project (CMIPP) in the Provinces of Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya, the Bugkalots express their support and appreciation for a successful negotiation among the Bugkalot Ancestral Domain Environmental Management Council (BADEMC), Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM), and the NIA, with the assistance of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) represented by NCIP Region II Commissioner Simplicia P. Hagada.

On February 8, 2023, posters from the Bugkalot Indigenous Cultural Community/Indigenous Peoples were displayed in one of its barricades as a show of support to the efforts of the NIA and PSALM that resulted to a positive development in this long-lingering issue. “Successful negotiation NIA, PSALM, BADEMC. Thank you NIA Administrator Mr. Eddie Guillen!!!” shows in one of its posters.

NIA Central Office – Presided by Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary Arnel V. De Mesa, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) conducted the Ceremonial Turnover of Leadership on December 14, 2022 at NIA Convention Hall, 5^th Floor, DCIEC Building.

During the ceremony, NIA Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Atty. Eryl Royce R. Nagtalon will pass on the baton of leadership to Acting Administrator, Engr. Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen.

Before being appointed as NIA chief, Administrator Guillen served as the Municipal Mayor of Piddig, Ilocos Norte which was included in this year’s Top 10 Performing Local Government Units. On the other hand, Atty. Nagtalon will continue his post as the Senior Deputy Administrator of the Agency.

NIA Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector C’zar M. Sulaik, Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Ralph Lauren A. Du, Apayao Provincial Vice Governor and National Confederation of Irrigators Associations (NCIA) President Remy N. Albano, Corporate Board Secretary Atty. Willie Ann M. Angsiy, NIA Department/Regional/Project Managers nationwide, employees, and guests are present during the event.

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) joins all government offices in the observance of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) on November 25, 2022 to December 12, 2022 led by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW).

With the theme “UNiTEd for a VAW-Free Philippines”, the campaign aims to highlight the gains and milestones achieved in the efforts to prevent and address VAW in the country toward the assessment, implementation, and strengthening of VAW-related laws. NIA supports the government’s action to sustain the drive towards a VAW-free community.

To know more about the 2022 campaign including the line-up of activities, visit PCW's website: https://pcw.gov.ph/2022-18-day-campaign-to-end-violence-against-women/.

At last, the much awaited peaceful dialogue among the Bugkalot Ancestral Domain Environmental Management Council (BADEMC), Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM), and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) initiated by NIA Administrator Benny D. Antiporda will now signal a fresh start for the Bugkalots to secure their rights for their concerns as an impacted community.

To heed the call of the President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. on the onslaught of Typhoon Karding in the NDRRMC meeting, NIA and PSALM immediately acted upon in the decades-long lingering concerns of the Bugkalot Tribe that was affected by the Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project (CMIPP) in the Province of Nueva Ecija that resulted in the stand-off between the military, PNP, and Bugkalot Tribe members in Barangay Pelaway, Alfonso Castañeda, Nueva Vizcaya.

“Dahil kami ay mabubuting Pilipino rin humahanap kami ng paraan kung saan tayo magsasalubong nang hindi maaapektuhan ang national interest. Kasi alam natin ‘yan, it is part of the economic growth ng Pilipinas. Pero in the part of Bugkalot, bilang nagtiis nang matagal, nandito kami ngayon — puso sa puso”, uttered by BADEMC Chairman Daniel P. Pasigian.