NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), represented by Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, and Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM), represented by President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Atty. Irene Joy Besido-Garcia, signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the transfer of the 60% ownership share over the P33.75-billion Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project (CMIPP) to the latter on December 14, 2021 at NIA Administrator’s Conference Room, 2^nd Floor, Building A. NIA Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Engr. Freddie M. Toquero and Central Office Department Managers were present during the MOA Signing.

The memorandum is pursuant to the Economic Development Cluster (EDC) Resolution No. 02, series of 2021, providing the resolution that NIA shall implement the transfer of its 60% ownership share over CMIPP to PSALM. Under the memorandum, NIA agreed that PSALM shall procure the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) Service Contract under Republic Act No. 9184 (Government Procurement Reform Act) to operate, manage, and maintain CMIPP’s power generation facilities and non-power generation facilities, such as weather stations and access roads from December 11, 2021 until its eventual privatization.

NIA Region III – True to its mandate of developing, construction, operating, and maintaining irrigation systems in support of the government’s agricultural program, the National Irrigation Administration – Balog-Balog Multipurpose Project Phase II (NIA TBBMP-II) turned over the rehabilitated Tarlac Diversion Dam to NIA Regional Office III on December 1, 2021. The unveiling of Tarlac Diversion Dam Marker and test run for the intake and sluice gates of the dam were likewise conducted during the activity.

The Tarlac Diversion Dam, located in Barangay Carangian, Tarlac City was formally turned over by TBBMP Manager Prudencio B. Santos to NIA Regional Office No. III, headed by Manager Josephine B. Salazar. The ceremony is witnessed by NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya.

The original operation of the system was in 1959. It was rehabilitated in June 1984 with a total cost of P68.645 million. The project covers about 10,315 hectares of agricultural land in the municipalities of Pura, Victoria, Gerona, La Paz, and Tarlac City, all in the province of Tarlac, benefitting 7,699 farmers and their families. The control structures of the gates of this rehabilitated dam are now automated.

NIA Luzon Regional Managers, some Central Office Department and Division Managers, Region III Irrigation Management Office (IMO) Managers, and Tarlac Federation of Irrigators Association were present during the event.

NIA Region I – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) inaugurated the newly rehabilitated P168.773-million Madongan River Irrigation System (RIS) and P131.292-million Solsona River Irrigation System (RIS) on November 24, 2021 in the Province of Ilocos Norte.

The rehabilitated and improved Madongan RIS with a Firmed-Up Service Area (FUSA) of 2,027 hectares covers the municipalities of Dingras and Marcos, supplying ten (10) barangays with eight (8) Irrigators Associations. While the Solsona RIS with a firmed-up service area (FUSA) of 1,340 hectares covers the municipalities of Solsona and Dingras, supplying nine (9) barangays with five (5) Irrigators Associations.

NIA Acting Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Freddie M. Toquero led the inauguration and turnover ceremony in behalf of the NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya. Present also in the event were Embassy of Japan H.E. Ambassador KOSHIKAWA KAZUHIKO, representatives of JICA headed by Chief Representative AZUKIZAWA Eigo, local government officials headed by representative to the Ilocos Norte Governor Matthew Joseph M. Manotoc, NISRIP Project Manager Silvino C. Navarro, NIA Region I Manager Angelito S. Miguel, and Ilocos Norte Irrigation Management Office (Ilocos Norte IMO) Manager Weynard Untalan. Also, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei B. Nograles conveyed his message through a pre-recorded video.

NIA Region I – Under the leadership of Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) breaks ground for the P1.3-billion Dumoloc Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (Dumoloc SRIP) on November 19, 2021 in Barangay Cayanga, Bugallon, Pangasinan.

Dumoloc SRIP includes the construction of a zoned type earthfill dam across Dumoloc River which will supplement the water supply to  Cayanga, Cabatuan, and Laguit Dams, as well as the Drainage Reuse Points for Cabigaan Area. Upon completion, the project will provide timely and reliable irrigation water supply to 1,825 hectares of agricultural land during Wet Season and 990 hectares of agricultural land during Dry Season with a cropping intensity of 180 percent. The project will benefit 1,400 farmers and their families.

Department of Agriculture (DA) Undersecretary Kristine Y. Evangelista, NIA Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Engr. Freddie M. Toquero, Ph.D., NIA Region I Manager Angelito S. Miguel, local government officials, and Irrigators Association (IA) officers and farmer-members attended the event.

NIA Region V – A total of 1,799 farmers in Albay and Camarines Sur, Bicol Region will benefit from the recently inaugurated and turned over irrigation systems by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) on November 16, 2021. These projects with an aggregate cost of P74,144,127.46 include 1) P37.893-million South Quinale River Irrigation System (South Quinale RIS) Rubber Dam in Brgy. Busac, Oas, Albay, 2) P874,741.48 IA Model Farm Drip Irrigation Project in Brgy. Napo, Polangui, Albay, and 3) P35.377-million Agos Rubber Dam in Brgy. Agos, Bato, Camarines Sur.

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) supports the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) in celebrating the 2021 National Science and Technology Week (NSTW) on November 22-28, 2021 with the theme, “Agham at Teknolohiya: Tugon sa Hamon ng Panahon”.

The celebration is pursuant to Presidential Proclamation No. 780, series of 2019, declaring every fourth week of November as NSTW. It aims to highlight the significant contributions of Science and Technology in National Development.

For more information, you may visit the DOST Official Website at https://nstw.dost.gov.ph.

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NIA Region IV-A – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya led the ribbon-cutting ceremony of the newly installed automated sluice gate of Sta. Cruz River Irrigation System (Sta. Cruz RIS) on November 04, 2021 in Barangay Calumpang, Liliw, Laguna.

The Sta. Cruz River Irrigation System involves the supply, fabrication, delivery and installation of sluice gates and mechanism with 2.2 KW electric gear motor, 45 KVA Genset and electrical accessories, and construction of operation house and intake house. The Sta. Cruz RIS with 2,295 firmed-up service area aims to secure year-round irrigation water to the 1,542 farmers and their families of the Municipalities of Sta. Cruz and Pila, Laguna. Furthermore, this intends to promote self-sufficiency in rice production and increase productivity in high value crops.

Present in the event were NIA Acting Senior Deputy Administrator Romeo M. Lopez, NIA Acting Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Freddie M. Toquero, Barangay Calumpang Captain Raymond C. Arnuco, Incoming Regional Manager Wilson M. Lopez, Laguna Rizal Irrigation Management Office (LRIMO) Division Manager Fidel P. Martinez and Irrigators Associations (IAs).

NIA Region VII – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), headed by Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, conducted the Groundbreaking Ceremony of the P1.5-billion Bohol Northeast Integrated Irrigation Project on October 27, 2021 in Barangay Tomoc, San Miguel, Bohol.

Bohol Northeast IIP includes the construction of Cambangay Catch Dam and four diversion dams, namely, 1) Isumod, 2) Cambangay and Ipil, 3) Hinlayagan Ilaga, and 4) Kinan-oan Diversion Dam. Upon completion in 2027, the project will provide timely and reliable irrigation water supply to 2,133 hectares of agricultural land in the municipalities of Danao, San Miguel, Trinidad, and Bien Unido, benefitting 683 farmers and their families. Moreover, the project is also expected to increase the irrigated areas, cropping intensity from 114% to 200%, and rice production of the service area.

NIA OIC-Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Freddie M. Toquero, Region VII Officials and employees headed by Regional Manager Wilson M. Lopez, Bohol Provincial Governor Arthur C. Yap, Bohol 2^nd District Representative Erico Aristotle C. Aumentado, other local government officials, and Irrigators Associations (IAs) were present during the event.

NIA Region VIII – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), headed by Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, inaugurated the P814.167-million Sta. Rita Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (Sta. Rita SRIP) on October 5, 2021 in the Municipality of Sta. Rita, Samar.

Sta. Rita SRIP includes the construction of an Earthfill dam and irrigation outlet works from which the service canal draws water for agricultural land. The project will provide timely and reliable irrigation water supply to 960 hectares of agricultural lands in the barangays of Maligaya, San Eduardo, Tulay, Camayse, Tominamos, Anibongon, Sitio Ormocanay, Gumamela, and Kadaragan, benefitting 764 farmers and their families. It is also expected to provide other incidental benefits, such as flood control, aquaculture, hydropower generation, domestic water supply, and recreational facility.

NIA Region VIII Manager Ruby C. Tuan, Jr., Western Samar Provincial Governor Reynolds Michael T. Tan, represented by Samar Provincial Investment and Trade Promotions Officer Brett Delos Santos, Sta. Rita Municipal Mayor Joven P. Tiu, Samar 2nd District Representative Sharee Ann T. Tan, represented by Chief of Staff Nelieta Baguna, Silaga River Irrigators Association President Heracleo M. Cajafe, other local government officials, and IAs were present during the event.