NIA Central Office – With 15 Regional Offices, two Integrated Irrigation Systems Offices, and 64 irrigation management offices (IMOs) nationwide, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) remains true to its mandate of providing efficient, reliable, and sustainable irrigation service to the Filipino farmers.

NIA CALABARZON – Under the leadership of Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) fast-tracks the construction of the P997.4-million Macalelon Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (MSRIP) located in the Municipality of Macalelon Quezon. On March 10-11, 2022, NIA Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector Engr. C’zar Sulaik and NIA CALABARZON Regional Manager Wilson M. Lopez conducted a joint project inspection at the dam site and other irrigation facilities of MSRIP.

The project is one of the big-ticket projects in CALABARZON being implemented by NIA. It includes the construction of a 22.5-meter high zoned-earthfill embankment dam and its appurtenant structures with active storage capacity of 3.5 million cubic meters. The project aims to irrigate a total of 830 hectares of agricultural land on 10 barangays in the Municipality of Macalelon, benefitting at least 700 farmers and their families. The project is set to be completed next year.

During the dialogue with the Irrigators Associations (IAs), DA Sulaik expressed his full support to NIA Quezon Irrigation Management Office (Quezon IMO) in its effort to complete the project on time. He advised the technical personnel directly involved in the project implementation to further strengthen coordination with the contractor and Irrigators Associations (IAs).

NIA Caraga – With President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s virtual presence as the Guest of Honor and Speaker, three of the National Irrigation Administration’s irrigation projects in Caraga Region: the Umayam River Irrigation Project, Mat-i, Ambacon and Pinana-an Irrigation Project, and Sta. Josefa Pump Irrigation Project have been inaugurated and turned over to their respective Irrigation Management Offices on March 8, 2022 at the municipality of Loreto, Agusan del Sur.

Costing P2.5 billion, these three projects would irrigate about 7,765.26 hectares of farmlands benefitting 2,828 farmers in Caraga and contribute to the attainment of rice self-sufficiency and food security of the country.

Stalled for several years due to challenges and difficulties in project implementation, these projects have been fast-tracked in the present administration following the mandate of President Duterte of completing these projects during his term.

The P1.4 billion Umayam River Irrigation Project located in Brgy. Waloe, Loreto, Agusan del Sur whose water source is from the Umayam River was started in January 2012 and completed on October 31, 2021. With a service area of 4,314.06 hectares of farmlands, URIP has 1,345 farmer beneficiaries in the municipalities of La Paz and Loreto in Agusan del Sur.

As the National Irrigation Administration instructed the farmers serviced by the Angat-Maasim River Irrigation System (AMRIS) to adapt the adjusted cropping calendar, the dropping of the water level of Angat Dam which allocates water for irrigation to Bulacan and Pampanga farmlands poses no threat to the farmers.

This is mentioned by Engr. C’zar M. Sulaik, NIA Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector in a TV Program interview conducted by Net 25 – Mata ng Agila on February 28, 2022.

On the day of the interview, the water level of Angat Dam is at 196.29 masl, almost 16 meters lower than its normal water level of 212 masl. At the start of the month of February, the water level of the dam has been below normal, thus reducing its water allocation for irrigation.

However, DA Sulaik said that this does not greatly affect the farmers in Bulacan and Pampanga benefitting from Angat Dam because their farmlands are already in its terminal drainage wherein water requirement is less. In the months of March and April, only 5 m³/s is necessary to complete the remaining irrigation requirement for AMRIS.

DA Sulaik shared that NIA has already conducted coordination meeting with Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) on the conduct of cloud seeding over the reservoir which is scheduled on March 8, 2022.

NIA Central Office – With the goal of providing more efficient monitoring, evaluation, and field inspection/validation of the status of on-going construction and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) activities of irrigation projects nationwide, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has recently acquired 345 units of light and transport equipment (Honda XR 150 Motors) worth P34.327 million from the winning bidder, K Servico Trade, Inc.

The acquisition of light/transport equipment is in line with the Four-Point Agenda of NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, particularly in instituting measures to improve the delivery of services, such as but not limited to modernization of equipment for operations and project implementation. The purchase of light/transport and heavy equipment is also part of the Agency’s re-fleeting program.

For CY 2017, NIA purchased 34 units of light/transport vehicles and 17 units of heavy equipment. For CY 2018, NIA acquired 91 units of light/transport vehicles and 18 units of heavy equipment. Meanwhile, five units of heavy equipment and 91 units of light/transport vehicles were set for procurement in 2019.

NIA Central Office – In an article published on the official website of politics.com.ph on February 22, 2022, Senate President Vicente C. Sotto III and Senator Panfilo M. Lacson shared their plans on how to address the irrigation problems of the country through a wider state-funded program that would install solar-powered irrigation systems (SPISs) on paddy fields and plantations. The plan is very much aligned with the innovation and modernization thrusts of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), especially on the utilization of irrigation facilities, dams, and reservoirs for renewable energy development.

As the lead government agency mandated to develop all possible sources of water for irrigation, NIA is also embarking on the benefits of developing more floating solar and hydroelectric power projects on its existing irrigation systems and future irrigation projects nationwide for income generation.

Due to Irrigation Service Fee (ISF) exemption of farmers with landholding of eight (8) hectares and below under the Free Irrigation Service Act (Republic Act No. 10969), NIA ventures on the development of hydroelectric power, solar, and floating solar power projects to further strengthen its viability as a Government-Owned and Controlled Corporation (GOCC). It will address both irrigation and renewable energy development concerns of the Filipino communities.

NIA UPRIIS – A total of 34 farmers in Barangay Villa Rosario, Talugtug, Nueva Ecija will benefit from the recently inaugurated and turned over P9.18-million Solar-Powered Pump Irrigation Project by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) on February 24, 2022.

The construction of the Villa Rosario, Talugtug Solar-Powered Pump Irrigation Project, whose main water source comes from Pantabangan Dam through Super Diversion Canal, started on March 24, 2021, and was completed on August 18, 2021 (150-calendar day construction period). Already operational since the last cropping season, it is providing timely and reliable irrigation service to 50-hectares of agricultural land, benefiting 34 farmer-members of CASSAMFVRROST Irrigators Association (IA). The project features 800 meters long with 8 inches in diameter HDPE pipes, 5 pipe outlets, 96 solar panels with 38,400 watts of system capacity, and a 45 KW Hybrid System.

The Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations of the National Irrigation Administration, Engr. C’zar M. Sulaik attended the169th Virtual Presser IATF - Task Group on Food Security as a resource person on February 15, 2022 at the Department of Agriculture.

Aired at 2:30 in the afternoon via PTV4, RTVM, and DA Facebook page, DA Sulaik gave update on the situation of Angat Dam which provides domestic water supply of Metro Manila and water requirement for irrigation of the Angat Afterbay Regulatory Dam (Bustos Dam).

DA Sulaik shared irrigation water delivery schedule for 2022 dry cropping season (November 1, 2021 - April 30, 2022) and for 2023 dry cropping season (November 1, 2022 – April 30, 2023) at the Angat-Maasim River Irrigation System. AMRIS has a program area of 26, 791 hectares benefitting 23, 708 farmers in Bulacan and Pampanga.

The Deputy Administrator explained that the normal high level of Angat Dam is 202 masl wherein as of yesterday, the water level is 195.85 masl, still far from the 160 masl critical level of the dam. In line with this, he mentioned that NIA had a successful negotiation with the NWRB, MWSS, Maynilad and Manila Water last January 11, 2022 regarding the Agency’s mitigation plans to meet the water supply requirements for irrigation without sacrificing the equally important need for domestic water supply in Manila and its nearby provinces.

The National Irrigation Administration Region III received 500 units of Shallow Tube Well Pumps with corresponding fuel subsidy from the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), National Water Resources Board (NWRB), Maynilad and Manila Water in a turnover ceremony held at the NIA Regional Office III Compound in Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan on January 28, 2022. Such STW pumps were then awarded to the Irrigators Associations of Bulacan and Pampanga.

This is the result of the successful negotiation of NIA with the MWSS, NWRB, Maynilad and Manila Water regarding the mitigation plans of NIA to meet the water supply requirements for irrigation without sacrificing the equally important need for domestic water supply in Manila and its nearby provinces. 

The provision of STW Pumps to the farmers is one of the seven mitigation plans presented by NIA Region III Manager Josephine B. Salazar wherein through the STW pumps, the farmers will be able to re-use water from drainage/creeks.

Aside from the 500 STW pumps, a corresponding fuel subsidy amounting to P15 million has also been granted by the MWSS, through its water concessionaires.

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Top Management Officials and the executives of Silver Dragon Construction and Lumber and Glass Supply, Inc. and Lorenzo Construction and Development Corporation led the Contract Signing Ceremony for the construction of the P545, 398,633.78 Cabano Earthfill Dam and its appurtenant structures under the Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP) on January 28, 2022 at NIA Administrator’s Conference Room, 2^nd Floor, Building A. NIA Acting Senior Deputy Administrator Engr. Romeo M. Lopez, Acting Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Engr. Freddie M. Toquero and Central Office Department Managers were also present during the Contract Signing.

Cabano Earthfill Dam is located in Sitio Tiprosan, Brgy. Aguilar, Municipality of San Lorenzo, Guimaras. The project includes the construction of 29.87-meter high Zoned-Earth fill Dam, 375-meter spillway, outlet works, and its appurtenant structures. It aims to provide substantial and timely water supply for irrigation, particularly in Region 6, in support to the agricultural development of the government.

Cabano Earthfill Dam, whose water source comes from Cabano River, covers the barangays of Aguilar, M. Chavez, Cabungahan, Suclaran, Cabano and San Enrique. It has a total service area of 861 hectares benefiting 1304 farmers and their families.