NIA UPRIIS – With its continuous pursuit of providing improved delivery of irrigation services to the Filipino farmers, the National Irrigation Administration – Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (NIA-UPRIIS) led the inauguration of four NIA projects on March 18, 2022 in the Province of Nueva Ecija.
NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, together with Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Ralph Lauren A. Du, led the inaugural ceremony of the following projects: 1) P28.604-million Jaen Solar Irrigation Project located in the Municipality of Jaen, 2) P18.895-million Natividad Solar Irrigation Project in the Municipality of Gen. Mamerto Natividad, 3) P68.9-million Automated Rizal Dam and Headgates, and 4) P7.003-million Electro-Mechanical Steel Gate of the Pampanga River Irrigation System (PRIS) in the Municipality of Rizal. These projects have an aggregate cost of P123,403,455.24. These projects will collectively provide an easier and more efficient irrigation water regulation to an approximate total irrigated area of 147,158 hectares of agricultural land in five cities and 30 municipalities in four provinces namely, Nueva Ecija, Bulacan, Pampanga, and Tarlac, benefitting about 102,092 farmers and their families.
The construction of Jaen Solar Project, whose main water source comes from creek and drainage reuse from rice fields of Cabanatuan City, Aliaga, and Sta. Rosa. It features PV Panel Module (1.56M x 2.108M), 5KW Hybrid System with 4.0 units 20 HP – 6.0” DIA type and size of conduit, and 0.80 cm/s discharge. Since its completion on August 27, 2021, the project was already used to provide sufficient irrigation water supply to ALSAPAM and IMPAMACOR Irrigators Associations during the previous cropping season.
The establishment of Natividad Solar Project, whose water source comes from a deep well, was completed on March 14, 2022 and is expected to benefit 60 hectares of agricultural land in Barangay Manarog, benefitting 50 farmers of KASAMNA IA once fully operational. The project features 112 panels with 44,800 watts, 1,200-meter length of conveyance, two pipe outlets, 30 HP Hybrid System, and 0.07 cm/s discharge.
As NIA continues to venture in modernization projects aligned with Administrator Visaya’s Four-Point Agenda, the Agency also inaugurated the Upgrading/Automation of Rizal Dam and Head Gates. Started on April 6, 2020, the upgrading and automation of the project includes the supply, delivery, installation, testing, and commissioning of equipment for dam controls, monitoring sensors, and control center for PRIS.
Moreover, the Agency unveiled the Electro-Mechanical Steel Gates of PRIS which is also situated in Barangay. Poblacion West, Rizal, Nueva Ecija. The project includes the supply, delivery, and installation of seven automated electro-mechanical steel gates, as well as the improvement of existing gate structures at PRIS Main Canal in UPRIIS Division II. The completion of this project signifies the Agency’s commitment to continuously develop, construct, operate, and maintain irrigation facilities that are resilient and climate change adaptive. This will provide an easier and more efficient irrigation water regulation to 14,353.34 hectares of agricultural land, with about 9,435 farmer-beneficiaries in the Municipalities of Rizal, Gen. Natividad and Llanera, Nueva Ecija.
UPRIIS Department Manager Bote, Division II Manager Alvin L. Manuel, Sr., Division III Manager Elenita L. Toquero, Public Affairs and Information Staff (PAIS) Department Manager Eden Victoria C. Selva, some uniformed personnel, and farmer-beneficiaries were present during the inaugural ceremonies.
As per the directive of Administrator Visaya, no political personalities were invited in accordance to Omnibus Election Code and NIA Memorandum Circular No. 16, series 2022, which states that the Agency’s resources and official meetings shall not be used for any electioneering and partisan political activities during the campaign period for 2022 National Elections.
From left to right: NIA Administrator Visaya, UPRIIS Department Manager Bote, and Deputy Administrator Du during the Blessing, Ribbon-Cutting, and Inaugural Ceremony of Jaen and Natividad Solar Projects
Unveiling of the Marker of Jaen Solar Project in Jaen, Nueva Ecija
From left to right: NIA Administrator Visaya, UPRIIS Department Manager Bote, UPRIIS Administrative and Finance Division Manager Milca Cayanga, and Deputy Administrator Du during the Blessing, Ribbon-Cutting, and Inaugural Ceremony of Electro-Mechanical Steel Gate of the Pampanga River Irrigation System
Blessing, Ribbon-Cutting, and Inaugural Ceremony of the Automated Rizal Dam and Head Gate
Unveiling of the Marker of the Automated Rizal Dam and Head Gates and PRIS Electro-Mechanical Steel Gates
Motor House and Control Area of the Pampanga River Irrigation System
Capping the program of the inauguration ceremony was the presentation of Plaque of Appreciation by the farmer-beneficiaries of ALSAPAM IA of UPRIIS Division headed by IA President Pedrito Sanchez. The plaque was presented by Division Federation of IAs headed by IA President Victor Hernandez and IA President Jaime Laysa, Sr.
**For questions and/or clarifications, you may contact:
EDEN VICTORIA C. SELVA
Department Manager A
NIA Public Affairs and Information Staff
E-mail: evcselva2000@yahoo.com
Landline: (02) 8921-3741 loc. 113
