NIA CALABARZON – Year-round irrigation water and an increase in rice production is now possible in the province of Quezon as the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) headed by Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya inaugurated and partially turned over the Quipot Irrigation Project on July 21, 2021 at Tiaong, Quezon.                     

The locally funded project amounting to P1,499,500,000.00 (Phase1 = P999.5 million, Phase2 = P450 million) objective is to improve the average cropping intensity, increase irrigated area and paddy yields during wet and dry seasons. Its main features are the construction of a diversion works, irrigation facilities and access/ service roads.   It is a Check Gate Barrage Type Diversion Works with an estimated water discharge of 5.95 cu.m. per second with a height and crest length of 5.50m and 50.3m respectively. It is the biggest barrage type dam ever constructed in CALABARZON.    

NIA CALABARZON Regional Manager, Romeo M. Lopez emphasized the possible benefits and outcome of the project for the whole province. “Ang proyektong patubig na ito ay nagpapakita ng potensyal ng Quezon na maging aktibong kabahagi ng pagsulong ng agrikultura hindi lamang dito sa probinsya kundi maging sa buong rehiyon”, said NIA IV-A Regional Manager.

“We are confident that with all your support, commitment and cooperation hindi malayong maabot ng CALABARZON ang food security sa rehiyon”, he added.

NIA Region III – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), under the leadership of Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, has completed the newly rehabilitated Porac-Gumain River Irrigation System (PGRIS) in the province of Pampanga.

The rehabilitated Porac-Gumain River Irrigation System under the National Irrigation Sector Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (NISRIP) is funded through a grant from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) amounting to P171,973,175.95. The project is expected to provide timely and reliable irrigation service to 3,249.95 hectares of agricultural land in the Municipalities of Lubao, Floridablanca, Guagua and Sta. Rita in Pampanga Province, benefitting 4,045 farmers and their families.

The rehabilitation works of Porac-Gumain RIS involved replacement of the falling shutter and provision of trash rack at intake in Porac Dam, replacement of sluicegate with rubber seal in Solib Dam, 10.045 kilometer concrete canal lining, improvement of 20 check gates, and eight (8) Irrigators’ Association (IA) offices with three (3) support facilities.

Further, the implementation of this project was carried out by NISRIP headed by Project Manager Silvino C. Navarro, NIA Region III headed by Regional Manager Josephine B. Salazar, and the Pampanga-Bataan Irrigation Management Office (PAMBAT IMO).

NIA Central Office – A total of 5,412 farmers tilling 6,238.96 hectares of agricultural land nationwide will benefit from the 18 irrigation systems recently inaugurated and turned over by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA). These projects with an aggregate cost of P1,775,256,282.00 include 1) ­­P150.44-million San Fabian River Irrigation System (San Fabian RIS) in San Fabian, Pangasinan on July 9, 2021, 2) P1.391-billion Upper Malitubog Service Area (UMSA) in Pikit, North Cotabato on July 8, 2021, 3) P18.5-million Laya West Communal Irrigation System (Laya West CIS) Phase II in Barangay Laya West, Tabuk City, Kalinga on July 7, 2021, and 4) mass turnover of 15 irrigation projects in Region XII amounting to P215,316,282.00 on July 5-8, 2021.

NIA CALABARZON – Under the leadership of Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) turned over two irrigation projects to two Irrigators Associations (IAs) in the Province of Rizal on June 24, 2021 at Barangay Calawis Covered Court, Antipolo City, Rizal. These project are Calawis Small Irrigation System (Calawis SIS) located in Antipolo City and Palay-Palay Pump Communal Irrigation System (Palay-Palay PCIS) in the Municipality of Jala-Jala with an aggregate cost of P22.007 million.

Calawis SIS, whose water source comes from Calawis Creek, includes the construction of check structure and installation of pipeline with four water tanks and accessories. With a total cost of P15.007 million, the project is expected to provide timely and reliable irrigation water supply to 43 hectares of agricultural land in Antipolo City, benefitting 20 farmers and their families. Administrator Visaya led the turnover ceremony of the project to Calawis IA, represented by IA President Ronnie R. Idala.

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) acquired 95 units of light and transport equipment worth P155.315 million for use in the monitoring and evaluation of the status of on-going construction and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) activities. The acquisition of light/transport equipment is in line with the Four-Point Agenda of 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.                                                                     

in a simple turnover ceremony on June 21, 2021 at the NIA Grounds, the light and transport equipment was turned over by the winning bidder, CT Citimotors – Mitsubihi Motors Philippines Corporation, represented by Mr. Lorenzo Cucio (Mitsubishi Motors) and Citimotors Assistant Vice President Rodrigo Almedral to NIA Top Management Officials, witnessed by Central Office Department Managers and employees.

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), represented by Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, and the CT Citimotors, Inc., represented by Assistant Vice President Rodrigo G. Almendral, signed the Contract Agreement for the acquisition of 95 units of light and transport equipment worth P155,315,500.00 million for use in the monitoring and evaluation of the status of on-going construction and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) activities on June 10, 2021 at NIA Administrator’s Conference Room, 2^nd Floor, Building A.

 The purchase of light/transport and heavy equipment is part of the third tranche of the Agency’s three-year re-fleeting program from CY 2017 to CY 2019. 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 – Under the leadership of Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) inaugurated two Small Reservoir Irrigation Projects (SRIPs) with an aggregate cost of P1.523 billion. These projects are the P645-million Benliw Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (Benliw SRIP) located in the Municipality of Ubay, Bohol which was inaugurated on May 27, 2021 and the P878-million Upper Tabuating SRIP in the Municipality of General Tinio, Nueva Ecija which was inaugurated on May 25, 2021.

Benliw SRIP, whose water source comes from Pasanan Creek, includes the construction of a 21-meter-high zoned earthfill dam with a length of 517 meters, irrigation and drainage canals, and other appurtenant structures. Its reservoir has a catchment area of 5.60 square kilometers that can store 2.86 million cubic meters of water. The project is expected to provide timely and reliable irrigation water supply to 400 hectares of agricultural land in barangays of Benliw, Emelda, Cagting, and Sinandigan, benefitting 600 farmers and their families. Aside from irrigation, the project is also expected to provide other incidental benefits, such as flood control, watershed management, agro-tourism promotion, soil conservation, and aqua-culture.

NIA Central Office – Under the leadership of Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) continues to fast-track the implementation of irrigation projects nationwide. For the month of May to August 2021, NIA is set to conduct the groundbreaking and inaugural ceremonies of 72 irrigation projects amounting to P13,729,651,559.56.

Out of these 72 irrigation projects, two (2) Small Reservoir Irrigation Projects (SRIPs) were inaugurated in the last week of May. These two projects alone have a total cost of P1.523 billion. On the other hand, 23 projects are set for inauguration/turnover in June with an aggregate cost of P1,224,974,493.64.

In addition, 22 projects are scheduled for inauguration in July with a total project cost of P3,595,203,180.00 and three (3) projects in August with an aggregate cost of P2,683,058,210.92. Meanwhile, 22 other irrigation projects can also be inaugurated/turned over for the month of June to August 2021 with a total project cost of P4,703,415,675.00.

Following is the list of all irrigation projects nationwide scheduled for groundbreaking and inauguration in the next three months.

NIA CALENDAR OF FIELD ACTIVITIES

NIA UPRIIS – Despite the prevalence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has finished the Upper Tabuating Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (Upper Tabuating SRIP) situated in Barangay Nazareth, General Tinio, Nueva Ecija.

Completed in December 2020, the P878-million Upper Tabuating Small Reservoir Irrigation Project involves the construction of Earthfill Dam with a height above the lowest streambed of 25.56 meters and length of 760 meters, with a storage capacity of 4.96 million cubic meters. The dam was able to irrigate the entirety of its target service area prior to its inauguration this month of May.

The Upper Tabuating SRIP is expected to provide irrigation water to around 700.87 hectares of agricultural land which will benefit about 223 farm families distributed among the barangays of Nazareth, Rio Chico, Bago and San Mariano in the municipalities of General Tinio and Peñaranda in Nueva Ecija.

Further, the implementation of this project was carried out by NIA-Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (NIA-UPRIIS) Division III, now headed by Acting Division Manager Elenita L. Toquero, under the leadership of UPRIIS Department Manager Rosalinda B. Bote.

NIA Region I – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) turned over the P631-million Barbar Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (Barbar SRIP) to the seven (7) Irrigators Associations (IAs) of San Juan and Magsingal, Ilocos Sur on May 06, 2021. The inauguration and turnover ceremony was held at the project site located in Barangay Barbar, San Juan, Ilocos Sur.

Amidst the current pandemic, NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya led the turnover of the Barbar Earthfill Dam with a storage capacity of 0.861 million cubic meters designed to irrigate a total of 846-hectare agricultural land covering eleven (11) barangays of San Juan and Magsingal, Ilocos Sur. 1,156 farmers and their families from the said barangays will benefit from the completed Barbar SRIP.

Present in the event were Ilocos Sur Governor Ryan Luis V. Singson, Ilocos Sur First District Representative Deogracias Victor Savellano, First District Board Member Efren Rafanan, San Juan Mayor Elaine Sarmiento, and NIA Region I Manager Angelito S. Miguel and Ilocos Sur Irrigation Management Office (IMO) Division Manager Gertrudes A. Viado who will facilitate the operation of the dam.