NIA Central Office - The Association of the Regional Directors and Operations Managers of the Philippines (ARDOMA), Inc. held its conference in Ilocos Norte, Region I on February 23-26, 2023. The four-day activity was commenced by a meeting conducted at the Plaza del Norte Hotel and Convention Center, Laoag City, Ilocos Norte. The highlight of the conference was the visit made by the ARDOMA, Inc. led by its President, Engr. Jimmy Apostol, to the Municipality of Piddig, Ilocos Norte. No other than the former chief executive of Piddig, currently, the NIA Acting Administrator, Engr. Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen, toured the group and unraveled the humble beginnings of their municipality. 

Piddig, Ilocos Norte, a third-class municipality is nestled along a foothill offering panoramic views of fields and mountains. A once sleepy town known too as the historic town of Basi (sugar cane wine) revolt, Piddig was conferred recognition as Galing Pook Awardee at the Malacañang Palace, last November 22, 2022, a prestigious award of the country’s top performing local government units.

San Miguel, Manila – Witnessed by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., NIA Acting Administrator Engr. Eddie G. Guillen signed the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with other government officials and Go Negosyo heads on the Kapatid Angat Lahat for Agriculture Program (KALAP) on March 6, 2023 at the Malacañang Palace Ceremonial Hall.

As a public-private sector partnership initiative, KALAP aims to promote inclusive economic growth using Go Negosyo’s framework of providing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) access to money, markets, and mentoring.

Together with the Department of Agriculture (DA), Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) with Go Negosyo heads, National Tobacco Administration (NTA), Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA), and National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP), the MOA Signing symbolizes the strong partnership of the public and private sectors to empower and scale up support for nation-building through the value chain integration of our country’s MSMEs, farmers, and fisherfolks to become more productive, profitable, sustainable, and globally competitive.

NIA Central Office – At last, after several dialogues and negotiations with the Bugkalot Indigenous Cultural Community/Indigenous Peoples (ICC/IPs) affected by the Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project (CMIPP) in the Provinces of Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya, the decades-long lingering issue involving the Bugkalots and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has finally ended.

Under the leadership of Acting Administrator Engr. Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen, the Bugkalot Indigenous Cultural Community/Indigenous Peoples voluntarily opened the barricades to the CMIPP in Barangay Pelaway, Alfonso Castañeda, Nueva Vizcaya on February 13, 2023 after the successful negotiation among the Bugkalot Ancestral Domain Environmental Management Council (BADEMC), Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM), and the NIA, with the assistance of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).

Prior to this, the impacted Bugkalots received the advance payment of Disturbance Fee from the NIA and PSALM pursuant to the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for Corporate Social Responsibility. This is part of the NIA and the Bugkalot IPs agreements to finally settle concerns and requests over the operation of the CMIPP situated within their ancestral domain. Continuing coordination between the NIA and the BADEMC is ongoing to ensure resolution to all issues surrounding the Bugkalots and CMIPP.

NIA Central Office – In less than a month after the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Acting Administrator Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen took the lead to convene with the elders and members of the Bugkalot Indigenous Cultural Community/Indigenous Peoples affected by the Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project (CMIPP) in the Provinces of Nueva Ecija and Nueva Vizcaya, the Bugkalots express their support and appreciation for a successful negotiation among the Bugkalot Ancestral Domain Environmental Management Council (BADEMC), Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM), and the NIA, with the assistance of the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) represented by NCIP Region II Commissioner Simplicia P. Hagada.

On February 8, 2023, posters from the Bugkalot Indigenous Cultural Community/Indigenous Peoples were displayed in one of its barricades as a show of support to the efforts of the NIA and PSALM that resulted to a positive development in this long-lingering issue. “Successful negotiation NIA, PSALM, BADEMC. Thank you NIA Administrator Mr. Eddie Guillen!!!” shows in one of its posters.

NIA Central Office – Presided by Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary Arnel V. De Mesa, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) conducted the Ceremonial Turnover of Leadership on December 14, 2022 at NIA Convention Hall, 5^th Floor, DCIEC Building.

During the ceremony, NIA Officer-in-Charge (OIC) Atty. Eryl Royce R. Nagtalon will pass on the baton of leadership to Acting Administrator, Engr. Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen.

Before being appointed as NIA chief, Administrator Guillen served as the Municipal Mayor of Piddig, Ilocos Norte which was included in this year’s Top 10 Performing Local Government Units. On the other hand, Atty. Nagtalon will continue his post as the Senior Deputy Administrator of the Agency.

NIA Deputy Administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector C’zar M. Sulaik, Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Ralph Lauren A. Du, Apayao Provincial Vice Governor and National Confederation of Irrigators Associations (NCIA) President Remy N. Albano, Corporate Board Secretary Atty. Willie Ann M. Angsiy, NIA Department/Regional/Project Managers nationwide, employees, and guests are present during the event.

NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) joins all government offices in the observance of the 18-Day Campaign to End Violence Against Women (VAW) on November 25, 2022 to December 12, 2022 led by the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW).

With the theme “UNiTEd for a VAW-Free Philippines”, the campaign aims to highlight the gains and milestones achieved in the efforts to prevent and address VAW in the country toward the assessment, implementation, and strengthening of VAW-related laws. NIA supports the government’s action to sustain the drive towards a VAW-free community.

To know more about the 2022 campaign including the line-up of activities, visit PCW's website: https://pcw.gov.ph/2022-18-day-campaign-to-end-violence-against-women/.

At last, the much awaited peaceful dialogue among the Bugkalot Ancestral Domain Environmental Management Council (BADEMC), Power Sector Assets and Liabilities Management Corporation (PSALM), and the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP) initiated by NIA Administrator Benny D. Antiporda will now signal a fresh start for the Bugkalots to secure their rights for their concerns as an impacted community.

To heed the call of the President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos, Jr. on the onslaught of Typhoon Karding in the NDRRMC meeting, NIA and PSALM immediately acted upon in the decades-long lingering concerns of the Bugkalot Tribe that was affected by the Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation and Power Project (CMIPP) in the Province of Nueva Ecija that resulted in the stand-off between the military, PNP, and Bugkalot Tribe members in Barangay Pelaway, Alfonso Castañeda, Nueva Vizcaya.

“Dahil kami ay mabubuting Pilipino rin humahanap kami ng paraan kung saan tayo magsasalubong nang hindi maaapektuhan ang national interest. Kasi alam natin ‘yan, it is part of the economic growth ng Pilipinas. Pero in the part of Bugkalot, bilang nagtiis nang matagal, nandito kami ngayon — puso sa puso”, uttered by BADEMC Chairman Daniel P. Pasigian.

“Daig ng maagap ang masipag.” This old Filipino proverb has been practiced by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) as the newly Revised Magat Dam Protocol on Dam Discharge and Flood Warning Operation became successful for the Agency’s Oplan Karding. No flooding incident was recorded in the Province of Isabela, including the Municipality of Aurora.

In the Press Conference for Oplan Karding conducted earlier, NIA Administrator Benny D. Antiporda, joined by Senior Deputy Administrator Atty. Eryl Royce R. Nagtalon and Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Ralph Lauren A. Du, highlighted the intensive monitoring of the major dams under the control of the Agency, namely, Magat Dam in Isabela and Pantabangan Dam in Nueva Ecija. With the Revised Magat Dam Protocol, NIA Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA MARIIS) already opened a gate in Magat Dam two (2) days before the landfall of Super Typhoon Karding.

NIA Central Office – Enough of those days that reseta and padrino systems are tainting the recruitment and selection process in government sector. This has been proven by NIA Administrator Benny D. Antiporda when he presided the Oath Taking of four full-fledged NIA regional officials and instructed the posting of 564 vacant (permanent) positions based on merits and qualifications.

On his 52^nd day as the Chief of NIA, Administrator Antiporda appointed up to four officials of the Agency, namely, Engr. Gileu Michael O. Dimoloy, Engr. June Nathaniel S. Plaza, Engr. Lauro E. Ballesteros, Engr. Salome N. Layasan. They all previously held Acting Appointments before being appointed as full-fledged managers. Rose from the ranks, the said officials also held various key positions on field offices with decades of experiences in irrigation development.

The Action Man of NIA is giving stern warning to all officers of NIA to refrain from seeking endorsements from politicians and other people who has no concerns to NIA. The Administrator does not entertain reseta and padrino system in the government.

Instead of getting people he knows personally, Administrator Antiporda chose to trust NIA employees who are seasoned experts in the field of irrigation management. Without a doubt, the accomplishments and expertise of the regional officials have served as vital testaments of their rightful appointments to their respective positions.

NIA Central Office – Heeding the call of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos, Jr. to eradicate graft and corruption in the Philippine Government, NIA Administrator Benny D. Antiporda and Senior Deputy Administrator Atty. Eryl Royce R. Nagtalon held a press conference on September 19, 2022 at NIA Convention Hall, 5th Floor, DCIEC Building to discuss the Agency’s request to the Office of the Ombudsman for the conduct of further investigation and filing of appropriate criminal and administrative cases against two NIA officials (Attorney IV) for violating the Republic Act No. 3019 (Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act), Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees, Gross Inexcusable Negligence, Misconduct and Conduct Unbecoming of Public Officers in the performance of their official duties.

NIA stands to lose the Green Asia Case with colossal amount of P205,958,119.77 due to the officials’ lackadaisical attitude and cavalier handling of the case. Such case could have been avoided if they performed their tasks and duties with devotion, utmost diligence, and good faith. The said damage is unduly suffered by the government and, ultimately, by the taxpayers – an injustice to the Filipino people.