President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr., along with NIA Administrator Engr. Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen, marked a significant milestone with the inauguration of the Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project – Stage II (MMIP-II) on April 29, 2024 in Barangay Bagoinged, Pikit, Cotabato. President Marcos led the official opening of the Right Main Canal 2 Headgate of Laterals C and D that convey the water 36 kilometers away from Maridagao Dam to the said barangay.“Sa awa ng Diyos, narito tayo ngayon para pasinayahan ang MMIP-II na tiyak na makatutulong sa ating mga kababayan dito. Pinili namin ang lugar na ito para sa inagurasyon upang ipakita na ang tubig mula sa Maridagao River kahit na malayo ay kaya nang ipaabot ang tubig pang-irigasyon sa ating mga magsasaka dito sa Pikit Cotabato”, said NIA Administrator Guillen during the event.MMIP-II is a multi-year project covering the municipalities of Pikit and Aleosan in Cotabato, and Pagalungan and Datu Paglas in Maguindanao Del Sur, BARMM. The project is designed to irrigate 9,528 hectares of farmland, benefiting around 4,000 farmers, including former MILF combatants or the decommissioned combatants. The project aims not only to increase agricultural productivity and livelihoods but also to improve peace and order in the region. The…...

On April 25, 2024, NIA Region V launched KADIWA sa NIA Program at NIA Albay-Catanduanes Irrigation Management Office (ACIMO), Ligao City, Albay. The KADIWA stores offered rice products sold at P20.00 per kilogram for members of Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), Senior Citizens, and Persons with Disability (PWDs) and P35.00 for regular customers. It serves as a way of Irrigators Associations (IAs) to return the blessings they received from the government to less privileged people of their community. Aside from affordable rice products, different fruits and vegetables, rice cakes (kakanin), delicacies, and other products of farmers were made available at Kadiwa stalls. NIA Region V KADIWA Program supports the government's initiative to help IAs market their goods directly to consumers and to make food accessible and cheap for all Filipinos. It became successful with the efforts of NIA Regional Manager Engr. Gaudencio M. De Vera, Albay-Catanduanes IMO Manager Engr. Jessie D. Baynas, and ACIMO IA Federation President Melanio Bañares. IA President Bañares was delighted on the successful launching of the program. According to him, it is fulfilling for them, IA leaders and members, to share their blessings from the bountiful harvest on the previous cropping season amidst El Niño. Moreover,…...

Amidst El Niño phenomenon, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) remains steadfast in providing sustainable irrigation service to the Filipino farmers, especially in Mindanao.Under the leadership of Administrator Engr. Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen, NIA successfully implemented the P5.133-billion MMIP-II located in Barangay Villarica, Midsayap, North Cotabato. As of March 2024, the project recorded an overall weighted physical accomplishment (OWPA) of 99.56%. A series of test runs on the completed canal structures in the Lower Malitubog Service Area was conducted on March 18, 2024. It aims to test the readiness and operating condition of the structures before it will be turned over to its farmer-beneficiaries.With water source from the Maridagao River, MMIP-II covers 9,528 hectares of agricultural land in the Municipality of Aleosan, North Cotabato, and the towns of Pangalungan and Datu Montawal in Maguindanao del Sur under the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM). The project has 4,043 farmer-beneficiaries.Guided by the battlecry of President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. for unity to achieve lasting peace and national progress, Administrator Guillen advocates bayanihan and personally talked to the residents about the positive impacts of MMIP-II completion in their livelihood. He met with the IA presidents and members and highlighted the importance of…...

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) takes immense pride in announcing the approval of its new Design-and-Build (DB) Procurement Guidelines for Irrigation Infrastructure Projects.The approval of the NIA Board on this strategic instrument on March 21, 2024, marks a significant milestone in the agency’s commitment to fostering efficiency, transparency, and innovation of the organization to contribute to the BUILD BETTER MORE Program of the Marcos Jr. Administration.Designed to streamline the infrastructure development and procurement processes while ensuring optimal quality and cost-effectiveness, these guidelines embody the NIA’s unwavering dedication to modernize irrigation systems across the nation. With these enhancements, the agency aims to address the evolving needs of the agricultural sector and propel sustainable development in rural communities, achieving a significant increase in the quality of life of Filipino farmers.The approved of the DB Guidelines is anchored on the provisions of RA 9184 otherwise known as the Government Procurement Reform Act specifically Annex G of the Implementing Rules and Regulations (IRR). The DB Guidelines of NIA was also benchmarked with that of DPWH, ensuring that the NIA leverages on the successful experiences of DPWH in the past several years.About the DB Procurement Approach:The DB approach entails that the contractor implements both the…...

On March 15, 2024, the Francis Domingo Nitura (FDN) Integrated Farm proudly hosted its Harvest Day World Breaking Rice Project 2024, a groundbreaking event that aimed to challenge the existing Asian record for crop harvesting that took place at the FDN Farm located in Ballesteros, Aurora, Isabela. Led by Baluarte's Irrigators Association (IA) President, Mr. Francisco Domingo Nitura himself, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) along with its Central Office and the NIA Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (NIA MARIIS) were present to witness the event. FDN served as a service area under NIA MARIIS Division 3, further underscoring the significance of the occasion.The event was also witnessed by Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary Noel Padre, DA OIC Regional Executive Director, Undersecretary Department of Justice (DOJ) Eric Vids, Regional Field Office-II Rose Mary G. Aquino, Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) Deputy Executive Director Karen Barroga Ph.D., DA Cagayan Valley Research Center Agricultural Center Chief III/Manager Engr. Rolando Pedro, National Seed Quality Control Services (NSQCS) San Mateo Isabela Bureau of Plant Industry Center Chief  Julito Claveron, Ph.D. , Agricultural Training Institute OIC Center Director Claris Alaska, Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) Provincial Director Vilma C. Cabrera, Representatives from the  Provincial…...