NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) set the green light for the construction of the P893-million Balbalungao Earthfill Dam on July 2, 2020 in Lupao, Nueva Ecija amidst the present COVID-19 pandemic.With strict compliance with Minimum Public Health Standards, NIA Administrator Ricardo R Visaya led the Agency’s first groundbreaking and capsule laying ceremony after the government declared lockdown since March due to COVID-19. “The conduct of the groundbreaking is the symbol of openization of the envisioned project that will bring hope to those who would benefit the most from it,” he said in his message.Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei B. Nograles, who served as the event's Guest of Honor and Speaker delivered his speech through a pre-recorded video. He acknowledged the importance of NIA’s mandate to help improve the well-being of our farmers in the New Normal to ensure irrigation in the continuity of farming. "Today’s groundbreaking while in quarantine is our declaration that our work continues, and that it continues with greater sear to overcome and prove that COVID-19 did not get the better of us. Instead, we will rise from this crisis like we Filipinos always do,” he remarked.Present in the event were local government officials…...

 NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) ensures timely and efficient implementation of its big-ticket irrigation projects, namely 1) P11.212-billion Jalaur River Multipurpose Project Stage II (JRMP II) in Calinog, Iloilo which broke ground on February 27, 2019, 2) P4.37-billion Chico River Pump Irrigation Project (CRPIP) in Pinukpuk, Kalinga which broke ground on August 08, 2018, and 3) Tarlac Balog-Balog Multipurpose Project Phase II (TBBMP II) located in San Jose, Tarlac which broke ground on July 18, 2017.As of May 31, 2020, JRMP II Project Management Office reported an actual project accomplishment of 27.98 percent against the target of 24.65. JRMP II is NIA's 8th big ticket irrigation project under the “Build, Build, Build” Program of President Rodrigo Roa Duterte and the first large-scale reservoir outside Luzon. The project includes the construction of three dams: a 109-meter high dam, a 38-meter afterbay dam across the Jalaur River, and a catch dam in Alibunan River. An 80-kilometer high line canal will also be constructed to deliver irrigation water from the dams to the rice paddies.Upon completion, JRMP II is expected to provide year-round irrigation water supply to 9,500 hectares of new irrigable areas and rehabilitation of 22,340 hectares covered…...

 NIA MIMAROPA – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has started the installation of the P3.557-million Isumbo Pump Irrigation Project (Isumbo PIP), the first solar-powered irrigation pump in Barangay Isumbo, Sofronio Española, Palawan. The project implementation commenced on May 29, 2020 after being awarded to the Contractor, Reinastar Trading and Construction Supply.Isumbo PIP covers the installation of a solar-powered pump, pump house, control panel, accessories, and 0.399 kilometers of canal lining to be completed in 120 calendar days. With 3728.5 watts or five horsepower (hp) submersible pump motor capable to produce 100 gallons of water per minute (gpm), the project is expected to sufficiently irrigate 10 hectares of agricultural lands in the barangay, benefitting 13 farmers and their families.The completion of the project can help diversify agricultural production. It was designed as an energy-efficient project that has the ability to pump up water from the source to an elevated storage tank and releases by gravity directly to irrigated areas.Calambiringan Irrigators Association (IA) President Jeanie G. Denzon said that farming will be difficult without irrigation, especially during dry season in Sitio Calabano.“The excess water coming from water well was maximized using expensive fueled water pump just to continue farming practices. The Isumbo…...

 NIA Central Office - In light of recent developments, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) implements a lockdown considering that as of June 30, 2020, the Agency has recorded three confirmed cases of COVID-19, although the said employees are not reporting to work since June 11, 2020 and June 19, 2020.For the period of July 01-07, 2020, NIA Central Office will adopt Work-from-Home Arrangement, while essential personnel will continue to report for work as necessary. Following this arrangement, for the period of July 08-14, 2020, NIA Central Office will implement a combination of Skeleton Workforce and Work-from-Home Arrangement.After the recently reported COVID-19 case, NIA immediately adhered to the necessary protocols of subjecting all Central Office employees to Rapid Testing. All employees who underwent the first batch of test at Veterans Memorial Medical Center turned out to be negative. However, there were a number of employees who tested positive had to undergo further tests.Meanwhile, disinfection of vehicles, buildings, and premises, and installation of office protective coverings were conducted to prevent and control the spread of the virus. Similarly, face shields, face masks, hygiene kits, and multivitamins for employees, and Ultraviolet (UV) Disinfecting Germicidal Sterilizer Light per office were provided by the Agency.NIA…...

 NIA Region III – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), headed by Administrator Ricardo R Visaya, and the Provincial Government of Bulacan, headed by Governor Daniel R. Fernando, conducted an ocular inspection of Angat Afterbay Regulator Dam (Bustos Dam) located at Barangay Tibagan, Bustos, Bulacan on June 09, 2020 after the recently reported collapse of the Rubber Gate No. 5.Upon site inspection, a meeting was held among the officials of NIA, Provincial Government of Bulacan, and ITP Construction, Inc. – Guangxi Hydroelectric Construction Bureau Co., Ltd. Consortium (Contractor) to discuss matters arising from the incident.Since the replacement of the rubber bladder is part of the 20-year warranty period policy from 2017 to 2037, a cofferdam is now being constructed by the Contractor, without any cost to NIA, to ensure that irrigation will be provided and the farming activities of the farmers will not be hampered. Completion of the said cofferdam is due on July 15, 2020.To further guarantee the integrity of the rubber bladder, a material testing will be undertaken by a third party contractor either in Singapore or Australia and will be carried out by July. All six rubber bladders of Bustos Dam were agreed to be replaced as permanent…...