NIA Quezon, City – The payment of plant damages and other improvements affected by the construction of Balog-Balog Multipurpose Project Phase II - North and South Main Canal are continuously being processed.

As of to date, the agency said that about 970 families were affected and resettled as the project verge to its full-blown implementation. That is why NIA BBMP II together with the local government units and other government agencies work hand in hand to synchronize their efforts to help affected communities.

NIA Region 3 Manager and BBMP Project Manager Engr. Josephine B. Salazar, during one of the discussions with local officials, said that local executives claimed that much sought and long awaited construction of BBMP II is a green light for the unhindered development of Tarlac.

Smooth relocation of the Project Affected Families (PAFs) prior to the construction of Balog-balog high dam is in progress. Resettlement site development II, slope protection/riprapping, construction of core house, construction of community structures at San Jose area, and construction of water and electrical system at Mambog, Sula, San Jose, Tarlac are some of the construction activities under the resettlement program this year.

CERTIFICATE OF ACCEPTANCE: Tapaz Mayor Roberto O. Palomar (center) receives certificate of acceptance of rubber boat from NIA, Region VI Engr. Jesus L Dato-on Division Manager A, NIA Regional Office VI (far left). Also in photo (second from left) Engr. Wilson C. Rey, Acting Division Manager A, Aklan-Capiz IMO, Capiz PENRO Valentin Talabero, and DENR Asst. Regional Director Jessie Vego.

March 22, 2017, Tapaz Capiz – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Region VI under the helm of Regional Manager Engr. Gerardo P. Corsiga, turned over a Php 250,000 worth rubber boat to Tapaz, Capiz LGU and San Julian, San Pedro, San Antonio Farmers Irrigators Association (SJPAF IA), Inc. to be used for operations and maintenance of Marugo Dam Reservoir, also known as Marugo Lake, located in Tapaz, Capiz. Said turn-over ceremony was held at Marugo Reservoir site during the celebration of World Water Day.

Marugo dam was built by the Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Soils and Water Management (DA-BSWM) and canal lines were built by NIA to irrigate the nearby farmlands of Brgys. San Julian, San Pedro, and San Antonio.

NIA, Quezon City - The National Irrigation Administration, on February 14, revealed that NIA is planning to increase its Community-Based Employment Program (CBEP) this year along with its thrust to build more irrigation projects nationwide.

Last year, the agency provided at least 66,340 employments where members of the local communities, where the project/s is being implemented, had their opportunity for an immediate employment.    

Irrigation works include mostly of repair and maintenance of existing irrigation systems, repair of groundwater pump irrigation systems, climate change adaptation, Coconet slope protection, improvement of services roads, etc.

NIA Corporate Planning Services Acting Manager Rogelia Dela Torre noted that the agency, last year, apportioned an estimated amount of Php 24.13 million for the said program. “Kasama dito sa program na ito both yung locally funded and foreign assisted projects natin” she added.

NIA Central Office, Quezon City – National Irrigation Administration chief Peter Tiu Laviña, who is currently embarking on field visitations on various NIA regional offices, believed that the best way to effectively support our Filipino farmers is to know their situations and problems ‘first-hand’.

Just recently, Administrator Laviña visited and inspected irrigation systems and facilities in Caraga Region, February 4-5. He also spent time talking to Irrigator Associations (IAs) both on communal and national irrigation systems.

“Our challenge as of the moment is how we can strengthen our IAs with the recently approved No Irrigation Service Fee (ISF) policy”, he said.

The Irrigation head assured each IAs that the agency (NIA) will continue to assist them through its Institutional Development Program (IDP). He even acknowledged the vital role of IAs for a peaceful and organized implementation of the policy (No ISF).

National Irrigation Administration, Quezon City – NIA Administrator Peter Tiu Laviña, today, orders all the National Irrigation Administration – Central, Regional, and Project Offices to publish all the ongoing and proposed irrigation systems for 2017 in their respective regions.

This is  one of the new administration thrust to inform the public about the current endeavors of the agency. “I would like to make available to the public the lists of projects in their areas of  jurisdiction” he added.

Administrator Laviña said that this transparency effort is in support with the current government’s aim to regain the trust and confidence of the public.

“This will help promote open and transparent governance and likewise dispel speculations that NIA is keeping the list to favor certain contractors”, he clarified.

The NIA chief also directed all the Regional Managers to timely post all the irrigation projects for bidding on Philippine Government Electronic Procurement System (PHILGEPS) and increase efforts to encourage more contractors to join project/s bidding.

(Left): NIA Administrator Peter Tiu Laviña delivers his message stating his four-point agenda. (Right) NIA MIMAROPA Acting Regional Manager Ramon A. Bugacia welcomes Administrator Laviña on his first time visit in the region.

Oriental Mindoro - New National Irrigation Administration Chief Peter Tiu Laviña presents his four-point agenda during his visit in MIMAROPA on January 19, 2017. These are: implementation of free Irrigation Service Fee (ISF), undertaking of irrigation projects, harnessing water resources for hydropower, and institutional review of mandate, programs and activities of the agency.

During his meeting with the NIA MIMAROPA Regional Office staff headed by Acting Regional Manager Ramon A. Bugacia, Mindoro Oriental-Marinduque-Romblon (MOMARO) Irrigation Management Office headed by Acting Division Manager Lowell L. Lozano and representatives of Federation of Irrigators’ Association of Baco-Bucayao RIS and Pula Bansud RIS headed by Mr. Calixto Isla, Administrator Laviña stated the thrusts of NIA in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s goals.

NIA, Quezon City – NIA Administrator Peter Tiu Laviña, last week, issued cautionary letter among the contractors who were behind the target date of the agreed project completion. This is in line with the new administration thrust to efficiently improve the existing irrigation facilities in a timely manner.

“Among my mandate is to give higher priority to the increase of irrigation area through rehabilitation of existing irrigation facilities”, Administrator Laviña noted.

The concerned contractors which attained very low or poor physical accomplishments as of December 2016 were given a warning by Office of the Administrator to urge them to improve their contract performances.

They were also directed to come up with their respective catch-up plans to address the delays. “We are giving you (contractors) 30 calendar days to submit your firm’s commitment to complete the obligated works as specified in the contract”, Laviña added.

Just recently, the Irrigation Chief told all the contractors dealing with NIA that he will not hesitate to suspend all the contractors who will fail to meet their obligations and will use sub-standard materials for the projects.

NIA, Quezon City – NIA Administrator Peter Tiu Laviña welcomes the request from Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Cambodia’s River Basin Water Resources Utilization Project (RBWRU) to gather information about water resources management in the country.

The letter specified that said information will serve as inputs to the design of the proposed Third-Country Training Program of JICA Cambodia’s RBWRU. The team is expected to visit the country on January 17-18, 2017.

They also wanted to see the Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (UPRIIS) in Nueva, Ecija to know the current situation on Operation and Maintenance (O&M) of National Irrigation Systems (NIS) in the country. 

Administrator Laviña is very open to coordinate with other agencies from neighboring countries as it will expose the country in international trend on irrigation and agriculture sector. He said that the visit is in time with the scheduled hosting of the Philippines for ASEAN Unity this year.

JICA Cambodia has been supporting the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MOWRAM) through the implementation of RBWRU since 2014. The project aims to establish coordination mechanism for water resources utilization in the target river basins in Cambodia.

January 4, 2017, Iloilo City - Newly appointed Administrator of National Irrigation Administration, Peter Tiu Laviña conducted his first field visit for 2017 in Region 6.

Administrator Laviña together with Region 6 Regional Manager, Engineer Gerardo P. Corsiga and Iloilo Guimaras Irrigation Management Office Manager, Engineer Florencio P. Colorado went to see the actual structures of the Santa Barbara River Irrigation System dam located at Brgy. Tungay, Sta. Barbara, Iloilo. The said dam is the oldest in Western Visayas, which was built on December 1, 1922.

He then proceeded to Barotac Viejo Small River Irrigation Project (BVSRIP) located at Brgy. Nueva Invencion, Barotac Viejo, Iloilo which is currently being jointly constructed by Oscar R. Sarmiento Construction, Inc. and Newington Builders, Inc. The project which is a 27.65 meters tall dam with crest length of 373.37 meters and crest width of 9.00 meters has a total catchment size of 50.40 square kilometers.  It has a reservoir capacity of 11.084 mcm and inflow design of 874.60 cms which targets to irrigate 2,050 hectares.