NIA Region II – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), presided by Senior Deputy Administrator Abraham B. Bagasin, inaugurated and turned over seven (7) irrigation projects worth P93 million in the Municipality of Sanchez Mira, Cagayan on October 1-2, 2021. These projects have a total service area of 475.61 hectares, benefitting 393 farmers and their families.

On October 1, 2021, NIA inaugurated the P10-million Labbac Small Irrigation Project (Labbac SIP) located in Barangay Namuac, Sanchez Mira, Cagayan. The project is part of Namilagan Communal Irrigation System (Namilagan CIS) and has a Firmed-Up Service Area (FUSA) of 122.79 hectares with 78 farmer beneficiaries. Like other CIS in Sanchez Mira, Cagayan, the system was originally a Private Zanjera, local term of farmers who organized themselves to operate and maintain a privately constructed irrigation system. The project includes the construction of diversion dam, canalization works, canal structures, terminal facilities, and access road.

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) ensures that it has an existing contingency plan for the Magat Dam located in Municipality of Ramon, Isabela.

On September 01, 2021, a Regional Committee on Dam Safety (RCODS) meeting was held virtually attended by the Cagayan Valley Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, Department of Agriculture (DA) Region II, NIA-Region II, NIA-Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-MARIIS) Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Administration (PAGASA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Region II, Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Region II, National Housing Authority (NHA) Region II, Isabela State University, and concerned Local Government Units (LGUs). Revised Protocol on Dam Discharge and Flood Warning Operation for Magat Dam was discussed by Acting Head Edwin J. Viernes of the Flood and Forecasting and Instrumentation Section of NIA-MARIIS and a Technical Working Group under the RCODS was directed to be created to review and finalize the project proposal on the Ensemble Technique for Rainfall Runoff Forecasting.

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has immediately conducted management actions in response to the Audit Observations and Recommendations made by the Commission on Audit (COA) in the Agency’s CY 2020 Audit Report, which consisted of the Independent Auditor’s report, the Audited Financial Statements, the Observations and Recommendations, and the Status of Implementation of Prior Years’ Recommendation with Annexes.

COA’s Audit Opinion was stated as “We rendered a qualified opinion of the presentation of the financial statements in all material aspects.” This issuance of a qualified opinion meant that there are only some items for clarification, specifically, the documentary requirements of the projects. COA also issued a “qualified opinion” on its CY 2019 Audit Report for NIA.

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) infrastructure projects are being threatened by sand and gravel quarry sites. These operate too close to irrigation facilities and structures leading to the adverse effects of excessive quarrying activities such as exposed foundation of said structures, scoured riverbanks, and degraded river beds. 

In Region XI, the Padada River Irrigation System located in Hagonoy, Davao Del Sur is experiencing the effect of quarrying activities adjacent to it. Diversion dam of Padada RIS suffers severe damages and exposed sheet piles threatening the foundation of the dam due to severe erosion apparently caused by the quarrying operations downstream. Also, the relocated diversion dam of Sta. Cruz River Irrigation System situated in Liliw, Laguna under NIA Region IV-A is being threatened again by severe erosion due to quarrying operations downstream. This after the original dam about 800 meters downstream was totally damaged in 2006. These are not isolated cases but rather are a nationwide occurrence. Based on the initial inventory by NIA, there are 116 irrigation systems/projects affected by quarrying activities nationwide.

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), represented by Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, and SN Aboitiz Power-Magat, Inc. (SNAP-MI), represented by President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Joseph S. Yu, signed the Settlement and Release Agreement amounting to P19,986,308.78 on August 3, 2021 at the Administrator’s Conference Room, 2^nd Floor, Building B. The amount serves as a payment of SNAP-MI to NIA for the utilization of excess irrigation water for power generation.

SNAP-MI acquired the 360-megawatt Magat Hydroelectric Power Plant (MHEPP) from the National Power Corporation (NPC) in a competitive bidding conducted by Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM). As part of the acquisition, NIA entered into an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Agreement with SNAP-MI on December 13, 2006 for the non-power components of the Magat Dam owned and operated by NIA primarily for irrigation purposes and secondarily for power generation.

NIA Region V – A total of 2,532 farmers tilling 1,963.12 hectares of agricultural land in Camarines Sur, Bicol Region will benefit from the recently inaugurated and turned over irrigation systems by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) on July 28-29, 2021. These projects with an aggregate cost of P46,924,543.18 include 1) P26.160-million Pump House and Farm Pond at Tigman- Hinagyanan-Inarihan River Irrigation System (THIRIS) in Calabanga, Camarines Sur, 2) P14.077-million Punta Diamante Pump Irrigation System in Canaman, Camarines Sur, and 3) P6.686-million rehabilitated Taisan CIS Dam (Sibagat Small Reservoir Irrigation Project) in Minalabac, Camarines Sur.

The construction of Check Gate of Punta Diamante Pump Irrigation System is expected to provide timely and reliable irrigation service to 250-hectares of agricultural land in Barangays Haring, San Agustin, San Vicente, and portion of Dinaga, Canaman, Camarines Sur benefitting 122 farmers and their families. Also, the construction of Pump House, Farm Pond, Canal Structures and Canalization Works of Tigman-Hinagyanan-Inarihan River Irrigation System (THIRIS) will provide irrigation service to 1,363.12-hectares in Calabanga, Camarines Sur that will benefit 2,245 Bicolano farmers. And, the newly rehabilitated Taisan Dam is set to irrigate 350-hectares of farmlands in the Barangays San Jose and Magadap in Minalabac, Camarines Sur with 165 farmer beneficiaries. 

NIA UPRIIS- Independent power system for irrigation will now benefit 273 farmers in the province of Nueva Ecija as the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) headed by Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya inaugurates newly completed Solar-Powered Pumps located at Barangay Pulo, San Isidro and Barangay San Josef, Peñaranda, Nueva Ecija on July 27, 2021.

The ceremony includes Ribbon Cutting, Unveiling of Marker, Blessing, and Ceremonial Test Run of Solar-Powered Pumps attended by NIA Top Management, Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (UPRIIS) Heads and Staff, Local Government Unit (LGU) Leaders and Representatives, and Irrigators’ Association (IA) Officers.

As the program starts, IA President of Peñaranda and Representative of San Isidro LGU expressed their gratitude to the whole Agency. They emphasized the immense advantage and effect of having solar-powered pump irrigation projects as it will reduce the production cost in their barangays.

“Ang pagtatayo ng solar-powered pumps ay isa sa mga bago at daynamikong proyekto na pinagtutuunan ng pansin ng NIA, sapagkat malaki ang naitutulong nito sa mga magsasaka hindi lamang para mabawasan ang konsumo sa paggamit ng tradisyunal na diesel powered pump kundi pati na rin sa pagpoprotekta sa ating kalikasan”, NIA UPRIIS Department Manager, Engr. Rosalinda B. Bote mentioned in her speech.

NIA CALABARZON – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) conducted the Turnover Ceremony of the P6-million Bulalo Small Irrigation Project (Bulalo SIP) located in Barangay Iruhin East, Tagaytay City, Cavite on July 27, 2021. Presided by Senior Deputy Administrator Abraham B. Bagasin, the project was turned-over to the Bulalo Damayan Irrigators Association, Inc., headed by the IA President Fernando Burazon, for its operation and maintenance.

Bulalo SIP includes the construction of solar pump, solar pump facilities and accessories, two concrete water tanks, trash track, pipelines, and check structures. The project is expected to provide timely and reliable irrigation water supply to 15 hectares of agricultural lands in Tagaytay City, benefitting 34 farmers and their families.

In his message, Senior Deputy Administrator Bagasin shared the significant role of close inter-agency coordination in the completion of various irrigation projects nationwide. He emphasized that these projects are for the benefits of the farmers and contribution to agricultural development.

"Nagpapasalamat kami sa ating mga LGUs na talagang sumusuporta sa ating mga proyekto. Hindi magiging matagumpay ang mga ganitong proyekto ng pamahalaan kung wala ang suporta ng ating mga kasamahan sa Provincial, District, at Local Governments", said Senior Deputy Administrator Bagasin.

NIA Region III – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) inaugurated the P171.97-million newly rehabilitated Porac-Gumain River Irrigation System (PGRIS) and turned over Irrigators Association (IA) Office with Support Facilities on July 22, 2021 in the Province of Pampanga.

The Porac-Gumain River Irrigation System and its area are located on the western part of Pampanga which is one of the oldest national run-off-the-river irrigation systems of the country continuously providing irrigation service to the Municipalities of Floridablanca, Guagua, Sta. Rita and Lubao, Pampanga. The rehabilitated Porac-Gumain RIS under the National Irrigation Sector Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (NISRIP), funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is set to irrigate 3,249.95-hectares of agricultural land in the said municipalities, benefitting 4,045 farmers and their families.

NIA Central Office – In adherence to the directive of Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya to fast-track the implementation of irrigation projects nationwide, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) remains steadfast in providing timely, efficient, and sustainable irrigation service to the Filipino farmers amidst pandemic. On July 21, 2021, NIA conducted the inauguration of the P28.242-million newly-restored Main Canal Extension of East Apayao-Abulug Irrigation Project located in the Municipality of Allacapan, Cagayan.

The ceremonial inauguration of the newly restored washed out section of the Main Canal Extension of East Apayao-Abulug Irrigation Project was presided by NIA Senior Deputy Administrator Abraham B. Bagasin. The project includes the construction of reinforced canal lining at main canal extension, spillway, drainage inlet, and dredging of Main Drain “A”/Linao Creek. With water source comes from Apayao-Abulug River, the restoration of the project will cover additional 80 hectares of agricultural land in the Municipality of Allacapan with 38 farmer-beneficiaries. At present, the project has a total service area of 2,164.275 hectares, benefitting 1,797 farmers and their families.