NIA Central Office – NIA Administrator Ricardo R Visaya’s fundamental pillar of governance is to improve the delivery of irrigation services in operations and project implementation. To ensure the attainment of these services, Administrator Visaya issued several memoranda. One of which is the Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 40, series of 2017, and likewise enforcing MC No. 10, series of 2017.MC No. 40, s. 2017, provides that when negative slippage of 5% (Early Warning Stage), the contractor shall be given a warning and required to submit a detailed “catch-up” program on a fortnightly (two weeks) basis to eliminate the slippage. On the other hand, if negative slippage of 10% is incurred (ICU Stage), the contractor shall be issued a final warning and required to come up with a more detailed program of activities with weekly physical targets, together with the required input resources. Meanwhile, if the negative slippage reaches 15% or more (Terminal Stage), the implementing offices shall initiate the termination of the contract and/or take-over of the remaining work by administration or assignment to another contractor/appropriate agency.On the other hand, MC No. 10, s. 2017, provides that Contractors with a negative slippage of at least 15% in any one NIA…...

 NIA Central Office – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) initiates the adoption of Diversified Cropping in National and Communal Irrigation Systems (NISs/CISS) to lessen the effects of Global Warming and Climate Change in the agricultural sector, effective Dry Season of CY 2020 through the issuance of NIA Memorandum Circular No. 63, s. 2019.In this regard, NIA, at any given time, shall ensure the continuous and bountiful harvest and that interventions, whether technical or procedural, be adopted to mitigate or lessen the effects of Climate Change, particularly, in the supply of irrigation water. Hence, the adoption of this procedural intervention, the Diversification of Crops, is deemed vital in securing the profitability of our Filipino farmers.The memorandum also enumerated the factors that must be considered in crop selection. These include the suitability to present soil condition, such as soil texture, soil pH or acidity, and soil fertility, the adaptability to existing climate condition in the area, such as temperature level, rainfall, intensity of light/yield, and day length, the high productivity potential and high tolerance to pests and diseases, the knowledge in cultural/cultivation requirements, crop profitability, and the availability of market for farm produce.Crop diversification provides numerous agricultural and economic benefits to the…...

 Diliman, Quezon City – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), represented by Administrator Ricardo R Visaya, and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), represented by Secretary Roy A. Cimatu, signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the purpose of effective management and development of the 143 watersheds supporting the National Irrigation Systems (NISs) in the Philippines on August 05, 2019 at the DENR Central Office.By the virtue of the DENR Memorandum Circular (DMC) No. 2008-05, the guidelines in the preparation of Integrated Watershed Management Plans (IWMP) and programs of all watersheds in the country, regardless of their classification, size, use, and administrative jurisdiction, was issued. In this regard, there is a need to establish and delineate the respective responsibilities of the DENR and NIA over watersheds and reservations, for purposes of effective management and development of programs and projects toward the sustainable existence of irrigation systems within the said areas. Similarly, the concept of Watershed Ecosystem Management (WEM) from ridge to reef approach, including vulnerability assessment, must be harmonized and adopted.The MOA provides that in coordination with DENR and Forest Management Bureau (FMB), NIA shall identify and recommend priority watersheds and reservations supporting irrigation projects which require immediate rehabilitation…...

 The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), headed by Administrator Ricardo R Visaya, conducted the Groundbreaking and Capsule-Laying Ceremony of the P775-million Macalelon Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (Macalelon SRIP) on July 29, 2019 at Barangay Vista Hermoza, Macalelon, Quezon. This signifies the official start of the said multi-million irrigation project.Macalelon SRIP aims to enhance the agricultural productivity of the Municipality of Macalelon, to create more employment opportunities, and to improve the living environment of the locals. The project includes the construction of a 22.5-meter high zoned-earthfill embankment dam and its appurtenant structures with active storage capacity of 3.504 million cubic meters, as well as irrigation, drainage, and project facilities, conduct of detailed engineering/pre-construction activities, institutional development programs, Right-of-Way (ROW) acquisitions, and resettlement of project-affected families.Upon completion, the project is expected to provide a reliable and timely irrigation water supply to 830 hectares of agricultural lands in 12 barangays of Macalelon and Lopez, Quezon. This will provide a beneficial impact on the livelihood of 700 farmer-beneficiaries. Furthermore, the project also entails numerous incidental benefits, such as flood control, aqua-culture, agro-tourism, hydroelectric and solar power generation, and watershed management. Indeed, a great economic game-changer in the Province of Quezon and a milestone in the…...

 The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) and SN Aboitiz Power Group (SNAP) switched on the 200-kilowatt pilot floating solar project on a 2,500-square meter area over the Magat reservoir on June 27, 2019 in Ramon, Isabela.Maximizing the utilization of its irrigation facilities is one of the projects of NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya such as developing its dams and reservoirs for renewable energy. In response to such project, SNAP constructed a pilot floating solar project at the Magat reservoir. It is the first of its kind over a NIA facility in the country and SNAP’s first floating solar project.The project presents an opportunity to generate clean energy while conserving precious land area that could potentially serve other purposes, particularly for agriculture.In his message, Administrator Visaya said, “I shared also to them (SNAP) my concern about some agricultural lands being converted into solar fields. I wanted to save these agricultural lands. If this (land-based solar installation) will continue, then there will be no more areas to be irrigated.”Compared to land-based solar installation, this floating solar project has less environmental impact during construction. This is because there is no massive earth moving and minimal use of heavy equipment.The solar panels installed over the…...