NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration-Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA-MARIIS) has advised residents of the Provinces of Isabela and Cagayan in Region II of its water release from the Magat Reservoir to maintain safe water level of the Magat Dam on Monday, November 9, 2020, two (2) days before Typhoon Ulysses (Vamco) made its first landfall in Patnanungan, Quezon, at 10:30 PM of November 11, 2020.

With the heavy downpour brought by Typhoon Ulysses that triggers massive flooding in many parts of the country, it also pushed the water level of Magat Dam beyond normal. NIA-MARIIS-DRD Flood Forecasting and Early Warning Dam Operations updates that the reservoir water level is now at 192.15 meters, which is 0.85 meters close to its spilling level of 193 meters above mean sea level as of 6:00 AM today, November 15, 2020. The reservoir inflow is at 1,020 cubic meters per second (cms) and outflow at 834 cubic meters per second (cms) with one (1) spillway gate opened at two (2) meters.

NIA Central Office – Heeding the call of the national government to a more transparent public service and in adherence to President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s directive to publish details of infrastructure and irrigation projects in national newspaper/broadsheet, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) tied up with the Philippine Daily Inquirer (PDI) for the publication of the List of Irrigation Projects Bidded at NIA Central Office, and Ongoing and Completed Operations and Engineering-Monitored Projects with more than P10-million budget allocation each from CY 2019 to CY 2020 in six issues. All published data and information are based on August 2020 Status Reports of the Agency.

NIA Central Office – Presided by Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) conducted the simultaneous Oath Taking Ceremony of Regional and Project Leadership via Google Meet on October 14, 2020 at the Administrator’s Conference Room, 2^nd Floor, Building A.

The leadership of Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Stage II (JRMP-II) will be passed on to Engr. Jonel B. Borres, former Engineering Division Manager of JRMP-II, after Regional Manager Gerardo P. Corsiga passed away earlier this month. From NIA Region 9, Engr. Rory F. Avance will now lead NIA Region 6 as the Acting Regional Manager.

Correspondingly, Engr. Manuel L. Rañeses, who was recently sworn as the Acting Regional Manager of NIA Region 8 last September 23, 2020, will be the new Regional Manager of NIA Region 9. Meanwhile, Engr. Ruby Tuan, Jr., Engineering and Operations Division (EOD) Manager of NIA Caraga Region, will be the Acting Regional Manager of NIA Region 8 after succeeding Engr. Rañeses.

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), represented by Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya and Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Romeo G. Gan, and Rayman Builders, Inc./JLL Pulsar Construction Corporation (Joint Ventures) represented by Authorized Managing Officers Joseph Jeremy D. Lara and Melencio B. Raymundo III, signed the P323.556-million worth of contract works under Lower Agno River Irrigation System Improvement Project (LARISIP) on October 13, 2020 at NIA Administrator’s Conference Room, 2^nd Floor, Building A.

The project with Contract No. R1-LARISIPD-C-2R includes the construction of slope protection and drainage inlet (Sta. 0+000.00 – Sta. 0+260.00 and Sta. 1+270.00), as well as the excavation of re-regulating pond

The contract signing is witnessed and attended by NIA Senior Deputy Administrator Abraham B. Bagasin, NIA Region 1 Manager Angelito S. Miguel, Rayman Builders Chairman Ver Raymundo, and JLL Pulsar Construction Legal Officer Victorio Casuay.

NIA CAR – Under the leadership of Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, the National Irrigation Administration – Cordillera Administrative Region (NIA-CAR) inaugurated P70-million worth of newly completed diversion dam structures of the Hapid Irrigation System (Hapid IS) located in the Municipality of Lamut, Ifugao on October 01, 2020.

The inauguration ceremony was led by Hon. Solomon Chungalao, Representative of the Lone District of Ifugao, Provincial Governor Jerry Dalipog, NIA-CAR Regional Manager Benito Espique, Jr., and NIA Ifugao Satellite Office Head Patrick Resurreccion. The event was witnessed by other local officials, regional heads of other agencies, NIA employees, and farmer-beneficiaries.

Hapid IS used to have a gravity intake-type diversion dam which draws irrigation water from the Ibulao River. With the completion of the diversion dam on May 08, 2020, irrigation service delivery is more reliable and efficient. The project covers 11 barangays of Lamut, Ifugao, benefitting 1,500 farmers and their families. To date, the irrigated area of the system is pegged at 1,040 hectares which is the targeted area for this wet cropping season.

Engr. Patrick Resurreccion said that the irrigated area can still increase because water is more sufficient with the completion of the diversion dam.

NIA CAR – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) recently turned over the completed P1.78-million Romualdez Solar Pump Irrigation Project (Romualdez SPIP) to Sitio Aba Irrigators Association for operation and maintenance on September 04, 2020 in the Municipality of Rizal, Kalinga.

Funded under NIA’s Establishment of Groundwater Pump Irrigation Project (EGPIP) CY 2020 allocation, Romualdez SPIP will irrigate six hectares of agricultural land in the municipality, benefitting 15 farmers and their families. The project is powered by 30 solar panels and installed with a 7.5-horsepower submersible pump lowered to a depth of 52 meters.

Engr. Ronilio Cervantes, Head of NIA-Kalinga Irrigation Management Office, stated that with nine to 10-hour operation in a day, the solar pump has a minimum discharge of 200,000 liters per day, where more sun equates more water. Similarly, two units of reservoir tanks were constructed to store water from the solar pump.

“The project uses the power of the sun to move water, without the need for grid power or diesel, which can equate to P270,000.00 in annual savings at P75.00 per hour in electricity bills”, said Engr. Cervantes.

Mr. Antonio Santiago, President of Sitio Aba Irrigators Association, said that they can now cultivate their lands for rice and some high value crops for two cropping seasons per year because of the Romualdez Solar Pump.

NIA Region 9 – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has recently completed the P5-million Mercedes Solar Pump Irrigation Project (Mercedes SPIP), the first solar-powered irrigation project in Zamboanga Peninsula Region located in Barangay Mercedes, Zamboanga City.

The post-construction test run was successfully conducted on September 15, 2020 by the technical personnel of Zamboanga-Basilan-Sulu-Tawi-Tawi Regional Sub-Office (ZAMBASULTA RSO) headed by Acting Manager Robert Bernie L. Rada II, together with the contractor and officers of Mercedes Culianan Cabaluay Talabaan Irrigators Association (MCCT IA).

Mercedes SPIP is a community development project initiated by Congressman Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe, 2nd District Representative of Zamboanga City.  The solar powered centrifugal pump gets its water source from a spring and can pump an average of 170 cubic meters in six hours. The irrigation system is powered by 28 solar panels that can discharge approximately 200 gallons of water per minute. The system is also equipped with surveillance cameras and fortified with security fence to ensure utmost safety and security measures. Once operational, the solar pump irrigation project can irrigate five hectares of agricultural land in the barangay, benefitting poorly irrigated and rain-dependent farmers in the area.

NIA Region 12 – Under the leadership of Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has recently turned over two irrigation projects with an aggregate amount of P66.7 million to two irrigators associations (IAs) in the Municipality of Columbio, Sultan Kudarat on September 03, 2020.

Funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the turned-over irrigation projects include the P56.9-million Dalol Communal Irrigation System (Dalol CIS) located in Barangay Natividad and P9.8-million Macadiz Small Irrigation Project (Macadiz SIP) located in Barangay Datalblao through the Department of Agrarian Reform - Mindanao Sustainable Agrarian and Agriculture Development (DAR-MinSAAD) Project.

Dalol CIS, which was turned over to Colundibus Communal Irrigators Association, includes diversion works (repair of wearing surface), protection works, canalization (rectangular canal lining), canal structures, and terminal facilities. The project will irrigate a total of 460 hectares of agricultural land in Barangay Natividad.

Congruently, Macadiz SIP, which was turned over to Macadiz Communal Irrigators’ Association in Barangay Datalbao includes diversion works, protection works, canalization, canal structures, and terminal facilities. The system will irrigate a total of 57 hectares of agricultural land in Barangay Datalblao.

Ang Pambansang Pangasiwaan ng Patubig (National Irrigation Administration) ay kaisa ng bayan sa pagdiriwang ng Buwan ng Wikang Pambansa ngayong Agosto 2020 na may temang “Wika ng Kasaysayan, Kasaysayan ng Wika: Ang mga Katutubong Wika sa Maka-Filipinong Bayanihan Kontra Pandemya”.

Lubos na kinikilala ng Ahensya ang mga programa ng Komisyon sa Wikang Filipino (KWF) upang maipalaganap sa higit na nakararaming mamamayan ang kamalayan sa pagdiriwang at kahalagahan ng Wikang Filipino, gayundin ang mga hakbang ng pamahalaan upang maiwasan ang paglaganap ng pandemya sa bansa.

Ang pagdiriwang ay alinsunod sa itinakda ng Proklamasyon Bilang 1041, taong 1997, na nagpapahayag ng taunang Buwan ng Wikang Pambasa tuwing Agosto 1-31.

NIA Central Office – Heeding the call of the National Government to strengthen the viability of Government-Owned and Controlled Corporations (GOCCs), the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is embarking on the benefits of developing more floating solar and hydroelectric power projects on its existing irrigation systems and future irrigation projects nationwide.

According to the studies conducted by the Agency, there are a total of 379 identified potential hydroelectric power sites nationwide as contribution in providing resources for renewable energy, as well as in maximizing the utilization of irrigation water. Among the potential sites for hydropower development, four (4) are already operational. These are the 8.5-megawatt (MW) MARIS Main (South) Canal Hydroelectric Power in Isabela, 1.0-MW Rizal Hydropower Plant in Nueva Ecija, 1.0-MW Bulanao Mini-Hydropower Plant in Kalinga, and 500-kilowatt (kW) Marbel #1 MHPP in South Cotabato. While NIA encourages this undertaking, one of the conditions set by NIA is that the project should not, in any way, obstruct irrigation water delivery as the primordial service of the Agency.