Quezon City – President Ferdinand “Bongbong R. Marcos Jr. have set forth his plans and programs to improve the country and recalled the challenges encountered and continue to face as he delivered his second State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 24, 2023 at the House of Representatives, Constitution Hills.

In his speech, the optimal growth of the country’s agricultural sector was one of the highlights. He emphasized the 2.2% increase in the agricultural sector for the first three months of the year (2023) and strategies to lift local agricultural production. “Katuwang natin dito ang buong sektor ng agrikultura at ang lokal na pamahalaan”, he said.

As part of the agricultural transformation, President Marcos also highlighted his tactic in the country’s quest for food security. Resulting to more sustainable and responsible yield benefiting current and future generations, procedures are now guided by science and the balance of nature.

 
NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is prepared for the impending El Niño phenomenon as NIA Field Offices nationwide already crafted their respective El Niño Action Plan. It contains different mitigating measures, such as water delivery schedule, utilization of Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD) Technology, Diversification of Crops, and the use of early maturing and drought-resistant crop varieties.

Through convergence with other national government agencies (NGAs), namely, the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Philippine Atmospheric Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA), National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC), other national government agencies (NGAs) involved in the agricultural sector and disaster management, Local Government Units (LGUs), Irrigators Associations (IAs), and the general public, NIA remains confident that our country can overcome all challenges that the El Niño phenomenon can bring.

 
NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Board of Directors approved the further development and implementation of the three (3) priority irrigation projects for Public-Private Partnership (PPP) during the 992^nd NIA Regular Board Meeting on June 29, 2023 at the NIA Board Room, 3^rd Floor, Building B, NIA Central Office. The projects identified on this endeavor are Ilocos Norte-Ilocos Sur-Abra Irrigation Project II (INISAIP II), Tumauini River Multipurpose Project (TRMP), and Upper Banaoang Irrigation Project.

Following the signing of Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between NIA and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center on its partnership to maximize the technical services of the latter in terms of NIA’s capacity-building for the utilization of various PPP modalities for irrigation projects, joint technical groups were formed and evaluated the initial 12 potential irrigation projects for PPP implementation. With PPP Center’s assessment and prioritization of projects for PPP, three priority projects were identified – INISAIP II, TRMP, and the Upper Banaoang Irrigation Project.

 
NIA Central Office – NIA Acting Administrator Engr. Eddie G. Guillen and Korea Rural Community Corporation (KRC) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Lee Byung Ho signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on food security, disaster prevention, and climate change response on June 16, 2023 at NIA Administrator’s Conference Room, 2^nd Floor, Building B.

The MOU Signing aims to foster cooperation between NIA and KRC in the development and implementation of projects related to water resource development and management, irrigation and drainage facilities improvement, and other related initiatives through Multilateral Development Bank, and Korean Government’s grants and loans, among others.

The areas of cooperation also include the exchange of experiences and technology in the fields of water resources, irrigation and drainage, and smart water management system. Exchange visits, education and training programs, seminars, workshops, and other relevant activities, as well as the exploration of additional areas of cooperation, will be organized. A Joint Steering Committee (JSC), composed of one co-chairperson from NIA and KRC with up to four member and one secretary for each party, shall be created to oversee the cooperation projects in the designated fields.

 
NIA Central Office – President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., as concurrent Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary, presides the Convergence Meeting for Masagana Rice Industry Development Program (MRIDP) on May 31, 2023 at NIA Conventional Hall, 5^th Floor, DCIEC Building, NIA Central Office.

Together with the various heads of agencies, National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Acting Administrator Engr. Eddie G. Guillen expressed his support to the agricultural industry’s thrust toward food sufficiency and food security as the NIA remains committed to its mandate of providing quality irrigation services nationwide.

As Food Security is the top-notch priority in the President’s 8-Point Socioeconomic Agenda, the Department of Agriculture’s Masagana Rice Industry Development Program was formulated with the objective of raising the level of production of important commodities including rice and strengthening the value chain from the farmers up to the consumers. The convergence initiative aimed to pool resources, share knowledge, and coordinate efforts to achieve sustainable rice production and uplift the lives of our farmers by increasing their income.

 
NIA Central Office – NIA Acting Administrator Engr. Eddie G. Guillen, NIA Senior Deputy Administrator Engr. Robert C. Suguitan, China Power Engineering Consulting Group International Engineering Co., Ltd. (CPECC INTL.) Vice President Zhao Jiang, and Ocean Eagle Energy Philippines, Inc. (OEEPI) President Atty. Celestino Gerald L. Cabrera signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for efficient implementation of the Panay River Basin Integrated Development Project on May 15, 2023 at NIA Administrator’s Conference Room, 2^nd Floor, Building B.

NIA’s mandate includes the construction of multipurpose water resources projects designed primarily for irrigation and secondarily for hydroelectric power development. Among the programmed projects of the Agency is the Panay River Basin Integrated Development Project which is on the process of validating/reformulation of its Feasibility Study (FS) simultaneous with Detailed Engineering (DE).

Having the technical capacity and experience to develop infrastructure projects, OEEPI offered to work with NIA on the development of the said project. This covers from updating and validating of FS to providing the necessary technical and commercial support to secure the project’s approval from the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and Department of Finance (DOF). It aims to expedite the process and ensure the successful project implementation.

 
NIA Region XII – In support to the President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. battlecry for unity to achieve lasting peace that paves the way for national progress and the Department of Agriculture (DA) Food Security Program, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Acting Administrator Engr. Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen visited the Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project - Phase II (MMIP II) at Liguasan Marsh, Pikit, North Cotabato on February 10, 2023, an area rarely visited by national government officials.

Together with Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector Engr. C’zar M. Sulaik and NIA Region XII officials, Acting Administrator Guillen personally looked into the project site and talked to its residents on the positive impacts upon the completion of MMIP II in their way of living. He later on met with the Irrigators Association (IA) Presidents and members of the project wherein the NIA Chief highlighted the importance of the farmer-irrigators’ support and cooperation in the realization of the MMIP II.

 
NIA Central Office – The collaboration between the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Center to maximize the utilization of NIA’s assets and irrigation projects has officially started as NIA Acting Administrator Engr. Eddie G. Guillen and PPP Center Executive Director Ma. Cynthia Hernandez signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on March 29, 2023 at NIA Convention Hall, 5^th Floor, DCIEC Building.

The partnership of NIA and PPP Center aims to maximize the technical   services of the latter in terms of NIA’s capacity-building for the utilization of various PPP modalities for irrigation projects, to obtain the optimal value of NIA’s resources through PPP, and to engage on other financial and revenue-generating activities that will strengthen the Agency’s viability as a government-owned and controlled corporation (GOCC).

As of December 31, 2021, NIA recorded 65.28% of the total 3.12 million hectares of irrigable land nationwide. With around 1 million hectares remaining to be developed, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. aims to revitalize the country’s irrigation sector. Thus, NIA eyes Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to fast-track irrigation development which will further sustain the irrigation needs of greater Filipino farmers and will ultimately answer the President's call to strengthen food security.

NIA Region VI – The construction of the P664.75-million Bayuyan Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (Bayuyan SRIP) officially started as NIA Acting Administrator Engr. Eddie G. Guillen led the Groundbreaking and Capsule-Laying Ceremony of the project on March 16, 2023 at the Gatekeeper’s Quarters, Barangay Bayuyan, President Roxas, Capiz.

As the biggest irrigation project of NIA in the Province of Capiz by far, Bayuyan SRIP covers 594 hectares of agricultural land on eight barangays in the Municipality of President Roxas, namely, Bayuyan, Badiangon, Culilang, Goce, Carmencita, Cubay, Ibaca, and Sto. Niño. With 540 farmer-beneficiaries, the project is expected to be completed by December 2025. Aside from the provision of year-round irrigation to the local farming communities, the project will provide other incidental benefits, such as flood control, environmental and watershed management, agro-tourism promotion, and aquaculture development, among others.

In his message, Administrator Guillen solicited the support of all stakeholders toward the success of the project. He emphasized that the project reflects the undying commitment of NIA to fast-track irrigation development and to uplift the lives of greater Filipino farmers.

NIA Region XII – The National Irrigation Administration, under the leadership of Acting Administrator Engr. Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen, fast-tracks the completion of the Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project – Stage II (MMIP-II) in the Municipality of Pikit, North Cotabato. Despite numerous challenges on peace and order, security, and natural calamities, the project is expected to be completed by December 2023.

Originally, MMIP was a P3.1-billion irrigation covering 13 barangays in Cotabato and four (4) barangays in Maguindanao with a target area of 10,840 hectares to benefit 4,549 farmer-beneficiaries. The project was intended as a peace-building measure and as a catalyst to improve the lives of the farmers and other stakeholders.

With the completion of the MMIP Phase I, a total of 5,562 hectares in Maridagao service area and 1,611 hectares in Upper Malitubog service area have been provided with irrigation service. With its significant socioeconomic benefits and opportunities through job generation from project implementation stage to agricultural production stage, the project was instrumental in transforming the previously war zone area to an economic zone.