NIA Region IX – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Top Management Officials, headed by Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, led the Basilan Project Briefing and Mass Turnover Ceremony of five completed irrigation projects to respective Irrigators Associations (IAs) in Isabela City, Province of Basilan on August 03-04, 2018.

The turned over projects with an aggregate amount of P27 million, benefitting a total of 117 farmers and their families, include the Mahayahay Communal Irrigation System in Maluso, Tabiawan Communal Irrigation System in Isabela City, Kalayan Communal Irrigation System in Lantawan, Semut Small Irrigation Project in Akbar, and Colonia Communal Irrigation System in Lamitan City. These are carry-over projects from Calendar Year 2016 and 2017.

During the Management Meeting in NIA Zamboanga-Basilan-Sulu-Tawi-Tawi (ZAMBAZULTA) Office on August 03, 2018, the Administrator reminded regional officials to use budget accountably and wisely. In implementing new policies and reforms in the implementation of irrigation projects, honesty and integrity must be firmly observed.

NIA Central Office – NIA Top Management Officials, the executives of Daewoo Engineering and Construction Co., Ltd., and Korean Export-Import Bank (KEXIM Bank) conducted the Coordination Meeting regarding the construction of P11.212-billion Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Phase II (JRMP II) located Calinog, Iloilo on July 25, 2018 at Administrator’s Conference Room, Building A.

The meeting aims to discuss and pursue the construction of 109-meter Jalaur High Dam, 38.5-meter Afterbay Dam, 10-meter Alibutan Catch Dam, 80.74-kilometer Highline Canal, and its appurtenant structures under the JRMP Contract No. R6-JRMPII-ICB-C-1 which will be signed in the first week of September 2018 to be followed by the ceremonial groundbreaking in the first week of October, that same year.

Stalled for 15 years, JRMP II is funded through an approved loan from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) of Korea amounting to P11.212 billion (US$260.140 million) with the revised implementation schedule of Year 2012-2021.

NIA Senior Deputy Administrator Abraham B. Bagasin, His Excellency Han Dong Man, Korean Ambassador to the Philippines, Congressional Representatives, Local Government Unit (LGU) officials, Irrigators Associations, and other stakeholders led the switching-on ceremony of the P1.029-billion Pasa Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (Pasa SRIP) on July 05, 2018 at Barangay Pasa, Ilagan City, Isabela.

The project is funded through a grant from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) amounting to USD 21.76 million (Php 935.68 million). It aims to reduce the adverse impact of climate change and to support the enhancement of water management in rural areas through the construction of water impounding facilities. With this project, it will mitigate flood to save 434 units of houses and 465 hectares of agricultural lands. It is also expected to contribute in attaining the government’s program in Food Self-Sufficiency through the provision of additional 766 hectares that will annually increase additional 8,629.20 metric tons of paddy rice equivalent to Php 98.037 million.

NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, together with Senator Francis “Chiz” Escudero, Governor Robert Lee Rodrigueza, and other NIA and local government officials, led the Groundbreaking Ceremony of P381.51-million Ibingan Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (Ibingan SRIP) on June 25, 2018 in the Municipality of Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon.

The groundbreaking of Ibingan SRIP is in line with President Rodrigo Roa Duterte’s 10-Point Socioeconomic Agenda envisioned to reduce poverty from 21.6% in 2015 to 13-15% in 2022 through infrastructure platforms yielding robust growth across the archipelago..

Ibingan SRIP, whose water sources come from Ibingan River, covers barangays San Antonio, San Ramon, Lupi, Quidolog, San Juan, Sto. Domingo, Rizal, Gogon, San Isidro, Bulawan, Sta. Lourdes, Ulag, Calao, San Fernando, and Carayat in Prieto Diaz, and Bagacay in Gubat, Sorsogon. It has a total service area of 489 hectares, benefiting 584 farmers and their families. It aims to provide sustainable development in the rural area by improving agricultural productivity, as well as increasing agricultural production through the provision and improvement of irrigation and drainage facilities, thus increasing farmers’ income and uplifting their standard of living.

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) ventures to floating solar power project on its dams and reservoirs as the SN Aboitiz Power Group has already proposed a water-based solar power project in Magat Dam in Isabela which features solar panels fixed to floats on the water surface.

Such power group will conduct a 2,500-square meter pilot project over the Magat reservoir, a small-scale preliminary study prior to the performance of the large-scale project. The floating solar power project size is yet to be decided after the study.

The result of NIA’s research shows that this water-based solar power project is more beneficial than the land-based one which converts large portion of agricultural lands into solar plants, making irrigable farmlands smaller. This results to the decrease in food production and poses a threat to the country’s food security. It also defeats NIA’s purpose of constructing and developing more irrigation systems in the country to ensure rice self-sufficiency. Instead of indulging into land-based solar project, NIA thus offers its dams and reservoirs for the water-based project which can achieve the same purpose of increasing power production while saving agricultural lands.

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NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya (Center Left) and Mr. Manuel A. Chua, Owner and Chief Executive of MAC Builders (Center Right), approved the construction of Ibingan Earthfill Dam in Sorsogon. Also present in the ceremony were Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Romeo G. Gan (Outermost Left), NIA Top Management Officials, and Department Managers of Central Office (Back).

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Top Management Officials and the executives of MAC Builders led the Contract Signing Ceremony for the construction of the P381.51-million Ibingan Earthfill Dam and its appurtenant structures under the Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (SRIP) on May 15, 2018 at the Administrator’s Conference Room, 2^nd Floor, Building A.

Ibingan Earthfill Dam is located in the Municipality of Prieto Diaz, Sorsogon. The project includes concreting works, excavation, reinforcing steel bars, and embankment. It aims to provide substantial and timely water supply for irrigation in support to the agricultural development of the Government.

NIA Region 3 - The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) officials and staff headed by Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya, together with the Hon. Lorna C. Silverio, Representative of the 3rd District of Bulacan, other local government officials, and some beneficiaries, officiated the ceremonial groundbreaking and capsule-laying of the P990.37-million Bulo Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (Bulo SRIP) on April 30, 2018 at Brgy. Kalawakan, Doña Remedios Trinidad (DRT), Bulacan.

The main objective of the project is to increase agricultural production through the provision of irrigation and drainage infrastructures in the area, thus generating additional employment opportunities. During rainy seasons, the Bulo SRIP will serve as catch basin area for 20 barangays in Bulacan, preventing flash floods at downstream of Bulo River, making it a development site for inland fish culture in the upstream of Bulo dam. The project targets to irrigate 35 hectares of agricultural lands at Kalawakan, DRT and 535 hectares of agricultural lands at Malibay, San Miguel, benefiting 500 local farmers.

NIA Region 12 – A fire incident infiltrated by unidentified person/s burned six (6) pieces of 18” Ø High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) Pipes (6 meters in length) owned by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) last April 02, 2018 between 3:00 AM to 4:00 AM at Barangay Malabod, Sarangani Province. The HDPEs are intended to be used as irrigation canal in Malabod Small Irrigation Project.

The initial information was given by Mr. Joel Tole and Mr. Christian Kawan, both residents of Barangay Mabalod and members of Sarangani PIO Survey Team. The fire incident was immediately reported to the Malungon Municipal Police Station and Bureau of Fire Protection (BFP) Region 12 - Malungon Fire Station. A brief assessment by the Project-In-Charge in that project, Engr. Verna Sanchez, stated that the total cost of damage is more or less Four Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 400,000.00).

A further joint investigation by SFO1 Redentor C. Recoperto, BFP Fire Arson Investigator, Malungon Fire Station, and Local Government Units (LGUs) headed by Barangay Captain Estido Labuyan alleged that the incident was a result of  misunderstanding between the contractor and the laborers hired in that project. Other possible causes could be political issues and strategy for recruitment of the unknown rebel groups.

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Top Management Officials and the executives of China CAMC Engineering Co., Ltd. led the Contract Signing Ceremony of the PhP 4.37-billion Chico River Pump Irrigation Project (Chico River PIP) on March 08, 2018 at Board Room, 3^rd Floor, Building A.

The project includes the construction of Pump House, Sub-Station, Transmission Line, Diversion Main Canal, Lateral Canals, Appurtenant Structures, Service/Access Road, and Terminal Facilities for Chico River PIP. It aims to provide substantial and timely water supply for irrigation in support to the agricultural development of the Government. It is projected to create 14,784 jobs during project implementation and 8,700 permanents jobs when the project becomes completely operational.

Chico River PIP, whose water sources come from Chico River, covers the Municipality of Tuao and Piat in Cagayan, and the Municipality of Pinukpuk in Kalinga, Apayao. It has a total service area of 8,700 hectares benefiting 4,350 families.