NIA Central Office – OIC Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector and concurrent NIA Region III Manager Engr. Josephine B. Salazar led the conduct of the Turnover of Completed Projects, Irrigators Association (IA) Consultation, and Contract Signing of the Bulacan Irrigation Management Office (IMO) on February 26, 2024 at NIA Region III Covered Court, Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan.

Joined by the Provincial Government and Local Government Units (LGUs) officials of Bulacan, NIA Region III Bulacan IMO turned over 16 completed projects to its IAs such as the BUSPAN Solar Pump Irrigation Project in Bustos, Repair and Rehabilitation of Angat-Maasim River Irrigation System (AMRIS) in San Rafael, ANBUSPA Solar Pump Irrigation Project in Bustos, Alagao Communal Irrigation System (CIS) in San Ildefonso, Cacarong CIS in Pandi, Maligaya CIS and Sibul CIS in San Miguel. About 15 IAs with 4,466 farmer-beneficiaries will benefit from the CY 2023 completed projects of Bulacan IMO.

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Region III Manager and concurrent OIC Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector Engr. Josephine B. Salazar received the P5-million worth of financial support from Maynilad Water Services, Inc. (Maynilad) for the Bulacan Irrigation Management Office (Bulacan IMO) on February 21, 2024 at NIA Region III Office, Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan.

Maynilad personally handed over the P5 million financial assistance to NIA Region III – Bulacan IMO for its El Niño mitigation program for Bulacan farmers. Bulacan IMO Division Manager Engr. Placida C. Cordero, Engineering and Operations Division Acting Manager Engr. Christian C. Manalo, and Water Control Coordination Unit Francisco J. Clara were also present along with Regional Manager Engr. Josephine B. Salazar.

The financial aid from Maynilad strengthens the NIA’s resilience to El Niño and highlights the value of Public-Private Partnerships in addressing climate-related concerns. This allows the NIA to carry out various initiatives targeted at mitigating El Niño’s impacts on water availability and agricultural productivity. Through this, Bulacan farmers will ultimately benefit from the assistance through the Agency’s plans and programs.

NIA Central Office – The efficient rice supply chain and development of a business-to-business (B2B) online market platform for rice are now more feasible with the Ceremonial Signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the Integrated Rice Supply Chain Development Program on February 2, 2024 at NIA Matikas Multipurpose Hall.

The participants for the MOU Signing were DA Chief of Staff Atty. Alvin John Balagbag, NIA Acting Administrator Engr. Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen, and DTI Secretary Alfredo E. Pascual. Serving as witnesses were Digital Philippines Undersecretary Mary Jean T. Pacheco and NIA Senior Deputy Administrator Engr. Robert C. Suguitan. NIA Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Robert Victor G. Seares, Jr., NCIA President Remy Albano, Department and Division Managers, and employees were present in the event.

In line with the realization of food sufficiency thrust of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. and the Three-Year Food Logistics Action Agenda of DA, DOTr, DPWH, and DILG, the MOU aims to create alternative market access for rice buyers and sellers. It targets to enhance the income of rice farmers through more efficient market and supply chain arrangement, to promote proper rice branding and classification, and to facilitate cooperation in production, marketing, sales, and domestic rice distribution in the market.

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) successfully installed a new Rubber Gate No. 5 at the Angat Afterbay Regulator Dam or most commonly known as Bustos Dam, a run of the river type of dam, located in Barangay Tibagan, Bustos, Bulacan on January 20, 2024.

Preceding the replacement of the new rubber gate, NIA OIC Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector and concurrent NIA Region III Manager Engr. Josephine B. Salazar led the conduct of an inflation and leak testing to further guarantee the integrity of the newly-installed rubber gate.

ITP Construction, Inc. – Guangxi Hydroelectric Construction Bureau Co., Ltd. Consortium (Contractor) replaced the defective rubber gate without any cost to NIA. The five (5) other rubber gates were further inspected to secure its structural integrity.

After the reported damage of the Rubber Gate No. 5 in 2020, the NIA immediately conducted series of actions with the Local Government Unit, Provincial Government of Bulacan, and its Irrigators Association (IA) to address challenges arising from the incident to make sure that irrigation is continuously available and the farming activities of the farmers of the Provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga are not hampered.

With the unwavering support of  President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. in fostering the agricultural sector, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) headed by Acting Administrator Engr. Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen successfully acquired the 141 units of excavator amounting to a total significant investment of  P776 million. These excavators were finally distributed to NIA regional and project offices nationwide.

The simultaneous distribution of equipment signifies another leap for the Agency in gearing up to more productive and efficient operation and maintenance (O&M) activities of irrigation projects all over the country. These units are now being used for desilting and clearing  irrigation canals, filling open spaces and gaps along the canal linings, construction and repair of damaged irrigation facilities and structures especially those that were devastated by natural disasters and calamities.

The heavy equipment acquisition is in line with the Agency’s objective which is “Ensure Efficient and Effective Operation and Maintenance of Irrigation Systems”. Likewise, it is part of the Agency’s Three-Year Refleeting Program which  aims to augment the available units which are mostly have exceeded its economic life, immediately repair or reconstruct canals and other irrigation facilities and undertake the regular operation and maintenance (O&M) of National Irrigation Systems (NISs).      

NIA Central Office - Immediately after the Magnitude 5.2 earthquake in Region VIII on November 20, 2023 and Magnitude 7.6 earthquake on December 2, 2023 in Caraga, NIA Acting Administrator Engr. Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen directed all NIA Regional Managers to conduct inventory and assessment of damages to irrigation infrastructures.

Based on the partial report submitted by NIA to the Office of DA Assistant Secretary for Operations dated December 13, 2023, the total estimated cost of damage/repair of infrastructure reached ₱109,493,000.00. It affected 7,241 hectares of agricultural land with 5,424 farmer-beneficiaries.

In Region VIII, the initial estimated cost of damages of Magnitude 5.2 earthquake was ₱46,000.00 in Samar National Irrigation Project (NIP), affecting 71 farmers tilling 271 hectares of farmland. The said irrigation project requires Emergency Works or remedial measures to immediately restore the service area and save the standing crops. 

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) enters into two Memoranda of Understanding (MOU) to fast-track irrigation development and utilization of NIA’s assets and irrigation projects for renewable energy development on December 7, 2023 at NIA Administrator’s Conference Room, 3^rd Floor, Building B.

NIA Acting Administrator Engr. Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen and BPE Corporation (BPEC) President Mr. Jesus Francisco Gabriel T. Delgado signed the MOU on the conduct of feasibility study for the pilot installation of a micro-hydro power at the weir of Angat Maasim River Irrigation System (AMRIS) South Main Canal in the Municipality of Angat, Bulacan. The project is entitled “Project GENIHAR” or Generate-Irrigate-Harvest. The MOU signing denotes the joint effort of NIA and BPEC to optimize the utilization of irrigation water for renewable energy development.

Given the challenges brought by Climate Change, investing in renewable energy is the best option for sustainable development. With the signing of the said MOU, NIA and BPEC have strengthened their partnership and efforts to develop more economically viable, environmentally sensible, and socially responsible renewable energy projects in the years to come.

NIA Central Office – NIA Acting Administrator Engr. Eddie G. Guillen and New Canaan Energy Resources Corporation President Alfonso C. Gillego signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the development of canal-top solar in the NIA Agno River Integrated Irrigation System located in Rosales, Pangasinan on November 20, 2023 at NIA Administrator’s Conference Room, 2^nd Floor, Building B.

The MOU Signing aims to pursue the development of solar farm for utility size power generation by utilizing the canal-top (“canal-top solar”) in an area which has the potential to have the feasibility of sustainable operations in the Agno River Integrated Irrigation System. Also, this initiates a full blown study to determine its financial, socio-economic, and technical viabilities as well as the most cost effective development, construction, and operation of the power generation component in the Project.

As the NIA continues to utilize the full potential of its irrigation systems as multipurpose water resources projects for power generation, flood control, domestic water supply, agro-tourism, and aquaculture, the Agency harnesses the use of solar energy as the most accessible and economically viable renewable energy source to help our Filipino farmers.

NIA Central Office – NIA Acting Administrator Engr. Eddie G. Guillen, NIA Senior Deputy Administrator Engr. Robert C. Suguitan, Ostrom Climate Solutions, Inc. (Ostrom Climate) President and Chief Executive Officer Phill Cull, and International Land Use Director Jane Boles signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for the implementation of “The Climate-Smart Rice Project in Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (UPRIIS)” on October 20, 2023 at NIA Board Room, 3^rd Floor, Building B. 

The project is eyed for immediate implementation until December 2028 with the goal of contributing to the achievement of rice security and resiliency in the country. This can be achieved by increasing water productivity in national irrigation systems (NISs) while reducing carbon emission in irrigated rice cultivation. The project primarily aims to promote a wide-scale and sustained adoption of Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) Technology in irrigated areas throughout UPRIIS with the provision of capacity-building activities and financial incentives with farmer-partners.

NIA Central Office – Federation of Irrigators Association of Central Negros-Bago River Irrigation System (FIACN-BRIS) of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Region VI, headed by Acting Regional Manager Jonel B. Borres, sold rice for Php 25 per kilogram (kg) in partnership with the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental on “Bigas ng Bayan” opening day on October 12, 2023 at Food Terminal Market, North Capitol Road, Bacolod City.

The Php 25 per kilo rice was made possible through the convergence of all sectors of society. The FIACN-BRIS of the Negros-Occidental Irrigation Management Office (IMO), led by Federation President Pedro Limpangog, allotted the 10 percent of their total production to the Negrenses at Php 25 per kilo that can be availed up to 5 kgs per consumer only. Priority consumers were senior citizens, indigents, and persons with disabilities (PWDs). At least 455 individuals availed of the low-priced rice on its opening day.

Prior to this, the Provincial Government of Negros Occidental, led by Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson, tapped the FIACN-BRIS in its Dagyaw Project, an initiative that promotes farm-level productivity interventions. They produced high-yield rice at a lower production cost with the aid of Job Order (JO) workers, who are also Irrigators Association (IA) members, in farming activities such as planting crops and running farm equipment and machinery.