The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), under the leadership of Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, inaugurated the newly rehabilitated Malatgao River Irrigation System (Malatgao RIS) and turned over nine (9) units of Irrigators Association (IA) Building and two (2) units of combined IA offices and post-harvest facilities, on November 25, 2019 in the Municipalities of Narra and Aborlan, Palawan.

Cabinet Secretary and Chairman of NIA Board Karlo Alexei B. Nograles led the inauguration and turnover ceremony. Joining him were NIA Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Romeo G Gan, Deputy Chief of Mission (Japan Embassy) Yasushi Yamamoto, Agricultural Attache (Japan Embassy) Tetsuharo Mori, and Senior Representative Jin Hirosawa of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The irrigation system under the National Irrigation Sector Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (NISRIP) is funded through a grant from JICA amounting to P189,363,679.42. The project is expected to provide timely and reliable irrigation service to 3,014.73 hectares of agricultural land in the Municipalities of Narra and Aborlan, benefitting 1,585 farmers and their families.

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), represented by Administrator Ricardo R Visaya, and First Hydro Power Corporation, represented by Vice President Dennis Michael P. Gonzales, signed on October 08, 2019 a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to develop a hydroelectric power project at the Aya Dam located in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija.

In line with this, First Gen has requested NIA’s permission to conduct a comprehensive feasibility study of the project, including but not limited to, legal, economic, social, financial, and technical viability, to which NIA has permitted the former to conduct the same.

The MOU will complement with the existing Pantabangan-Masiway Hydroeletric Power Plant through an acceptable scheme under existing laws, such as the Renewable Energy Act of 2008 (Republic Act No. 9513), among others.

The MOU signing was witnessed by NIA Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Romeo G Gan and other First Gen executives at the Administrator’s Conference Room, 2^nd Floor, Building A.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) ensures timely and efficient implementation of the P4.37-billion Chico River Pump Irrigation Project (CRPIP) in Pinukpuk, Kalinga which broke ground on August 08, 2018. As of July 31, 2019, the CRPIP Project Management Office reported an actual project accomplishment of 30.59 percent against the target of 23.48 percent, thereby posting a 7.11 percent ahead of the overall schedule.

Congruently, NIA guaranteed that construction works are all being implemented ahead of the target schedule. To realize this objective, the project contractor, China CAMC Engineering Co., Ltd., recently engaged the expertise of Chinese professionals, including engineers, management personnel, and highly-skilled equipment operators who were all granted working visas by the Philippine Government. The said experts are extremely necessary in the performance of highly-technical work functions, such as the construction of the tunnel and pumping station, which completion is set before the end of this year. So far, the project is ahead of schedule due to their effort and efficiency.

At present, CRPIP has 347 Filipino workers, mostly hired from the area. The collaboration of the Filipino workers with the Chinese experts is envisioned to complete the construction work in a shorter period of time and in a more efficient manner.

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) will rebid the P326-million irrigation project in Aborlan, Palawan this September 2019 according to NIA Administrator Ricardo R Visaya. This is the Ibato-Iraan Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP).

The said project is a zone earthfill dam with a reservoir storage capacity of 2.388 MCM which will irrigate about 860 hectares of farmlands in the four barangays of Sagpangan, Ibato, Iraan and Maligaya. The source of water will come from Ibato and Iraan River.

Once completed, this will be considered as the biggest irrigation project in Palawan which will benefit around 425 farmer beneficiaries of the four barangays.

Ibato-Iraan SRIP was awarded by NIA Central Office to Oscar R. Sarmiento Const. Inc. (ORSCI) with contract amount of P454 million and the Notice to Proceed was on April 2, 2014. The contract duration is 1,195 calendar days.

However, Right-Of-Way Problem (materials in designated borrow area can’t be extracted without Free and Prior Informed Consent) arose during the implementation of the project which resulted to delays and negative slippages. Upon thorough evaluation of NIA technical personnel, Administrator Visaya instructed the termination of the Ibato-Iraan SRIP effective December 5, 2018.

Final inventory and evaluation of the project accomplishment was conducted in early 2019 to determine the remaining works to be done.

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) signs two Memoranda of Agreement (MOA) between Maynilad Water Services, Inc. and Metropac Cagayan De Oro, Inc. (MCDO) on August 30, 2019 for the utilization of excess water from two irrigation systems managed by NIA for domestic consumption.

The MOA signing between NIA, represented by Administrator Ricardo R Visaya, and Maynilad, represented by Vice President Ronaldo C. Padua, aims to utilize the excess water from five identified dams in the Province of Cavite. These are Bukal Dam, Embarcadero Dam, Tres Cruzes Dam, Bayan Dam, and Plucena Dam with an aggregate volume of 94,060 cubic meters per day.

The MOA is an offshoot of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) entered by the parties to conduct a feasibility study on all dams within the province to determine any excess water of each dam after the irrigation needs of the farmers are satisfied.

Meanwhile, the MOA signing between NIA, represented by Administrator Visaya, and MCDO, represented by General Manager Rodrigo O. Yabut, aims to pursue the conveyance of 30 million liters per day (MLD) of excess water from the Bubunawan River Irrigation System, located in Baungon, Bukidnon, to the designated point of the company for a period of five years.

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) acquired 8 units of heavy equipment (motor graders) through a loan granted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) amounting to P71.8 million. The said heavy equipment will be used in the construction and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) activities of irrigation projects nationwide, specifically those projects under the National Irrigation System Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (NISRIP).

In a simple Blessing and Turnover Ceremony on August 20, 2019 at the NIA Grounds, the procured heavy equipment is turned over by the winning bidder, ConEquip Philippines, Inc., to the NIA Top Management Officials headed by Administrator Ricardo R Visaya and witnessed by Central Office Department Managers and employees.

The acquisition of light/transport and heavy equipment constitutes the three-year re-fleeting program of the Agency from CY 2017 to 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 are set for procurement this 2019.

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) acquires 18 units of heavy equipment (dump trucks) worth P64.599 million for use in the construction and Operations and Maintenance (O&M) activities of irrigation projects nationwide. The purchase of light/transport and heavy equipment constitutes the three-year re-fleeting program of the Agency from CY 2017 to 2019.

In a simple turnover ceremony on August 14, 2019 at the NIA Grounds, the procured heavy equipment is turned over by the winning bidder, Civic Merchandising, Inc., to the NIA Top Management Officials headed by Administrator Ricardo R Visaya and witnessed by Central Office Department Managers and employees.

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 are set for procurement this 2019.

NIA Central Office – NIA Administrator Ricardo R Visaya’s fundamental pillar of governance is to improve the delivery of irrigation services in operations and project implementation. To ensure the attainment of these services, Administrator Visaya issued several memoranda. One of which is the Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 40, series of 2017, and likewise enforcing MC No. 10, series of 2017.

MC No. 40, s. 2017, provides that when negative slippage of 5% (Early Warning Stage), the contractor shall be given a warning and required to submit a detailed “catch-up” program on a fortnightly (two weeks) basis to eliminate the slippage. On the other hand, if negative slippage of 10% is incurred (ICU Stage), the contractor shall be issued a final warning and required to come up with a more detailed program of activities with weekly physical targets, together with the required input resources. Meanwhile, if the negative slippage reaches 15% or more (Terminal Stage), the implementing offices shall initiate the termination of the contract and/or take-over of the remaining work by administration or assignment to another contractor/appropriate agency.

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) initiates the adoption of Diversified Cropping in National and Communal Irrigation Systems (NISs/CISS) to lessen the effects of Global Warming and Climate Change in the agricultural sector, effective Dry Season of CY 2020 through the issuance of NIA Memorandum Circular No. 63, s. 2019.

In this regard, NIA, at any given time, shall ensure the continuous and bountiful harvest and that interventions, whether technical or procedural, be adopted to mitigate or lessen the effects of Climate Change, particularly, in the supply of irrigation water. Hence, the adoption of this procedural intervention, the Diversification of Crops, is deemed vital in securing the profitability of our Filipino farmers.

The memorandum also enumerated the factors that must be considered in crop selection. These include the suitability to present soil condition, such as soil texture, soil pH or acidity, and soil fertility, the adaptability to existing climate condition in the area, such as temperature level, rainfall, intensity of light/yield, and day length, the high productivity potential and high tolerance to pests and diseases, the knowledge in cultural/cultivation requirements, crop profitability, and the availability of market for farm produce.

Diliman, Quezon City – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), represented by Administrator Ricardo R Visaya, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), represented by Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the purpose of effective management and development of the 143 watersheds supporting the National Irrigation Systems (NISs) in the Philippines on August 05, 2019 at the DENR Central Office.

By the virtue of the DENR Memorandum Circular (DMC) No. 2008-05, the guidelines in the preparation of Integrated Watershed Management Plans (IWMP) and programs of all watersheds in the country, regardless of their classification, size, use, and administrative jurisdiction, was issued. In this regard, there is a need to establish and delineate the respective responsibilities of the DENR and NIA over watersheds and reservations, for purposes of effective management and development of programs and projects toward the sustainable existence of irrigation systems within the said areas. Similarly, the concept of Watershed Ecosystem Management (WEM) from ridge to reef approach, including vulnerability assessment, must be harmonized and adopted.