“Daig ng maagap ang masipag.” This old Filipino proverb has been practiced by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) as the newly Revised Magat Dam Protocol on Dam Discharge and Flood Warning Operation became successful for the Agency’s Oplan Karding. No flooding incident was recorded in the Province of Isabela, including the Municipality of Aurora.

In the Press Conference for Oplan Karding conducted earlier, NIA Administrator Benny D. Antiporda, joined by Senior Deputy Administrator Atty. Eryl Royce R. Nagtalon and Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Ralph Lauren A. Du, highlighted the intensive monitoring of the major dams under the control of the Agency, namely, Magat Dam in Isabela and Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija. With the Revised Magat Dam Protocol, NIA Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA MARIIS) already opened a gate in Magat Dam two (2) days before the landfall of Super Typhoon Karding.

NIA Central Office – Enough of those days that reseta and padrino systems are tainting the recruitment and selection process in government sector. This has been proven by NIA Administrator Benny D. Antiporda when he presided the Oath Taking of four full-fledged NIA regional officials and instructed the posting of 564 vacant (permanent) positions based on merits and qualifications.

On his 52^nd day as the Chief of NIA, Administrator Antiporda appointed up to four officials of the Agency, namely, Engr. Gileu Michael O. Dimoloy, Engr. June Nathaniel S. Plaza, Engr. Lauro E. Ballesteros, Engr. Salome N. Layasan. They all previously held Acting Appointments before being appointed as full-fledged managers. Rose from the ranks, the said officials also held various key positions on field offices with decades of experiences in irrigation development.

The Action Man of NIA is giving stern warning to all officers of NIA to refrain from seeking endorsements from politicians and other people who has no concerns to NIA. The Administrator does not entertain reseta and padrino system in the government.

Instead of getting people he knows personally, Administrator Antiporda chose to trust NIA employees who are seasoned experts in the field of irrigation management. Without a doubt, the accomplishments and expertise of the regional officials have served as vital testaments of their rightful appointments to their respective positions.

NIA Central Office – Heeding the call of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos, Jr. to eradicate graft and corruption in the Philippine Government, NIA Administrator Benny D. Antiporda and Senior Deputy Administrator Atty. Eryl Royce R. Nagtalon held a press conference on September 19, 2022 at NIA Convention Hall, 5th Floor, DCIEC Building to discuss the Agency’s request to the Office of the Ombudsman for the conduct of further investigation and filing of appropriate criminal and administrative cases against two NIA officials (Attorney IV) for violating the Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees, Gross Inexcusable Negligence, Misconduct and Conduct Unbecoming of Public Officers in the performance of their official duties.

NIA stands to lose the Green Asia Case with colossal amount of P205,958,119.77 due to the officials’ lackadaisical attitude and cavalier handling of the case. Such case could have been avoided if they performed their tasks and duties with devotion, utmost diligence, and good faith. The said damage is unduly suffered by the government and, ultimately, by the taxpayers – an injustice to the Filipino people.

NIA Central Office – With the top priority of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos, Jr. to revitalize the country’s agriculture sector through irrigation development, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) eyes Public-Private Partnership (PPP) on irrigation development.

FUNDING is one of the major operational issues of NIA, as with other government agencies. Data shows that the estimated development cost of the lands without irrigation amounts to 594.76 billion pesos.

President Marcos, Jr. called for the application of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to government infrastructure projects. Thus, Administrator Benny D. Antiporda immediately went into the study of PPP application to NIA projects. In two months, NIA now has a total investment pledge of more than one trillion pesos from potential private partners, which would then allow NIA to pursue its irrigation projects without the restriction of limited funding.

NIA Central Office – Pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 1050, series of 1997 declaring the month of September as the Civil Service Month, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), headed by NIA Administrator Benny Antiporda, supports the Civil Service Commission (CSC) and all government offices nationwide in celebrating the 122nd Philippine Civil Service Anniversary in September 2022.

NIA greets the 1.8 million workforce of the Philippine Government who serve as key players of transparency and accountability in public service. The Agency salutes and honors its 14,302 employees nationwide as they work together to provide efficient, reliable, and sustainable irrigation service to the Filipino farmers.

#NIAparasabayan
#TuloyAngDaloyNIA
#NIA

NIA Central Office – The officials and employees of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) congratulate the four newly appointed Top Management Officials of the Agency as they look forward to more years of irrigation development and public service excellence.

Under the administration of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos, Jr., NIA remains resilient and confident that the country’s irrigation and agricultural sector will be revitalized for the Filipino people and for the nation. Together, as one united community, we can transform the Agency’s vision into action.

#NIAparasabayan
#TuloyAngDaloyNIA
#NIA

NIA Central Office – Engr. C’zar M. Sulaik took his Oath of Office as Deputy Administrator of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) before Supreme Court Associate Justice Jhosep Y. Lopez after being appointed by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos, Jr. on August 9, 2022 at the Conference Room of the Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations (DAEO) Sector, 3^rd Floor, DCIEC Building.

Having served NIA for almost 30 years, Deputy Administrator Sulaik is a seasoned irrigation expert.  He rose from the ranks until he held various key positions in NIA regional and project management offices. In 2017, he was appointed as Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector by former President Rodrigo Roa Duterte.  He was part of the NIA Top Management headed by then Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya.  As DAEO, he assisted Administrator Visaya in initiating, implementing, and overseeing NIA’s programs, projects, and activities.

NIA Central Office – With the theme "Pagkakaisa at Paghilom: Isang Bansa para sa Kapayapaan", the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), headed by Administrator Benny D. Antiporda, joins the Office of the Presidential Adviser on Peace, Reconcilation, and Unity (OPAPRU) and other government agencies in the celebration of National Peace Consciousness Month this September 2022.

The Agency recognizes the efforts of OPAPRU in spearheading various peace building activities, such as transitional justice and reconciliation conference with Bangsamoro youth, peace research forums, and peace conversations with marginalized sectors such as women, youth, indigenous peoples, and internally-displaced persons.

The annual commemoration of National Peace Consciousness Month every September is pursuant to Proclamation No. 675, series of 2004. The celebration also coincides with the observance of the International Day of Peace (United Nations) on the 21st day of September each year.

#NIAparasabayan
#TuloyAngDaloyNIA
#NIA

NIA Region I – With the directive of NIA Administrator Benny D. Antiporda to finish the ongoing repair works of the earthquake-damaged irrigation facilities of the Banaoang Pump Irrigation System (Banaoang PIS) in the Municipality of Bantay, Ilocos Sur within 45 days, NIA Region I headed by Regional Manager Engr. Gaudencio M. De Vera ensures that the regional office is doing its best to fast-track the efficient repair works of the project.

To date, Banaoang PIS is almost completed and is expected to resume its irrigation water delivery on September 1, 2022, only 30 days (one month) since Administrator Antiporda inspected the earthquake damages in the province. Once completed, a total of 2,200 farmers covering about 1,535 hectares of irrigable land in the municipalities of Bantay, San Ildefonso, Magsingal, San Vicente, and Sto. Domingo will benefit from the efficient irrigation service of the said project. The Action Man of NIA commended the efforts of the NIA Region I in the completion of the project repair works ahead of schedule.

“They were given 45 days to finish the repair. Within 30 days, it was done already. That is how NIAns deal with emergency situations now”, said Administrator Antiporda.

#NIAparasabayan
#TuloyAngDaloyNIA
#NIA

NIA Central Office – The officials and employees of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) congratulate Administrator Benny D. Antiporda for being elected by the members of the NIA Board of Directors as the Agency’s new administrator during the 984^th NIA Regular Board Meeting on August 18, 2022. He is the 26^th Administrator of the Agency.

Before being the full-fledged chief of NIA, Administrator Antiporda has been appointed by then President Rodrigo Roa Duterte as Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Undersecretary for Solid Waste Management and Local Government Units (LGU) Concerns and NIA Senior Deputy Administrator. Under the term of President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Romualdez Marcos, Jr., he was appointed as NIA Acting Administrator.

With the objective of intensifying the Agency’s efforts and achievements in the years to come, Administrator Antiporda expressed his goal to double up the completed irrigation projects of the Agency that can fast-track irrigation development through Public-Private and Public-Public Partnership (PPP and PUP). All of these are geared towards the provision of efficient public service, especially to the farmer-beneficiaries. Thus the #NIAparasabayan was launched to remind all NIA employees to continue doing their best in the service of the Filipino people.

#NIAparasabayan
#TuloyAngDaloyNIA
#NIA