NIA Central Office, Quezon City - National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator Dr. Florencio F. Padernal (L) together with Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization (PAFSAM) Secretary Fredelita C. Guiza (R) humbly welcome the committed team of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) headed by Director General Mr. Makoto Kitanaka (Center) on November 27, 2015. Discussions about the projects implemented under JICA were the prime focus of the meeting. Along with the scheduled visits of Mr. Kitanaka are the Upper Pamapanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (UPRIIS) in Cabanatuan City and Casecnan Multipurpose Irrigation Power and Project (CMIPP) in Nueva Ecija.Engr. Josephine B. Salazar (3rd from L) Regional Irrigation Manager of Region 3 and concurrent project manager of BBMP assists JICA Director General Mr. Makoto Kitanaka (C) during his project visitation in UPRIIS.   JICA Director General Mr. Makoto Kitanaka (R) listens enthusiastically along with Project Manager Alexander Coloma (C) of CMIPP....

Calinog, Iloilo - Members of the Indigenous Peoples (IPs) here covered by the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project Stage II (JRMP II) availed skills training offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). Dubbed Training for Work Scholarship Program (TWSP), it is an entitlement for the affected families ensured through strong partnership with TESDA. One member of each Directly Affected Project Affected Family (PAF) can avail of this training for free to equip them with necessary skills that will qualify them for work during project construction. Courses offered include Masonry, Carpentry, Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW NC I) and Heavy Equipment Operation. "The courses you will avail will not only prepare you for employment during JRMP II construction but it will prepare you for bigger opportunities after Jalaur. Ayaw naming na hanggang laborers lang kayo" said JRMP II Concurrent Project Manager Engr.Gerardo P. Corsiga. He further stressed that the training is just the start of the delivery of all JRMP II commitments to the affected IPs. After the training completion, NIA will assist the beneficiaries in availing assessments for them to earn a National Certificate (NC). An NC is a major requirement in many construction firms here and abroad…...

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) cordially invites interested Participants to the "Investors' Forum on the Development of Hydropower Plants in National Irrigation Systems (NIS)" to be held at the IEC Convention Hall, 5th Floor, IEC Bldg., NIA Compound EDSA, Diliman, Quezon City on November 10, 2015. The programs starts at 8:00AM and ends at 3:00PM. Among the topics to be discussed are: Indicative Guidelines in the Development of Hydropower Plants, MOA between NIA and the Department of Energy, and List of Potential Sites for hydropower plants. For further details, please call at the Office of the Public Affairs and Information Staff with telephone nos. (632) 921-3741 or (632) 929-6071 loc. 113 or thru e-mail addresses vparamio@yahoo.com or niapais@gmail.com...

NIA Administrator Florencio F. Padernal, Mr. Chang Yong Cheong, Project Director/PE (Seoyeong Engineering) Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) Environmental and Social Monitoring Team (ESMT), and Mr. Yongkeun Oh, Chief Representative, EDCF Manila Representative Office, Export-Import (KEXIM) Bank of Korea signed the Minutes of Discussion (MoD) for the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project (JRMP) at the Administrator's Conference Room on September 4, 2015.Minutes of Discussion contains the activities, findings, recommendations, agreements and compliance of NIA on Environmental and Social (E&S) measures prior to the commencement of construction of the project. Signing of MoD ensures compliance of the roles and responsibilities of both parties based on the E&S standards to JRMP II. MoD stated that JRMP is the first case to apply the joint implementation and accountability mechanism of the Project in the frame work of the National (Inter-Agency) Convergence Initiatives of the Government of the Philippines. JRMP II is one of the big-ticket projects of the National Irrigation Administration funded under the EDCF Korea. The loan was approved on August 9, 2012 and took effect on November 28, 2012. The project will provide year-round irrigation to 31,840 hectares in the Province of Iloilo. Other project benefits are hydropower electric and bulk water…...

Leaders of Regional Federation of Irrigators Associations (RFIAs) from all over the country convened on July 23, 2015 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila, Pasay City to ceremonially receive more than 400 recently-completed irrigation projects from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) during the Mass Turnover of Completed Irrigation Projects. The total cost of turned over projects is roughly about Php3.5B covering an area of 124,633.54 hectares with 48,234 farmer-beneficiaries. These projects are composed of both communal and national irrigation systems. Attending the grand occasion representing and delivering the message of President Benigno Aquino III is Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization, Secretary Francis Pangilinan. The President, through Pangilinan, highlighted the importance of the agriculture sector to the country's economy as it is the one feeding the whole nation. Aquino emphasized that the completion of these irrigation projects will ensure the improvement of lives of the farmers, increasing palay production, and providing food for the Filipino people. He also added that the government is doing its best to uplift the agriculture sector. He said, "Doble kayod tayo upang isulong ang sector ng agrikultura kung saan buhay na buhay ang mga pananim, buhay na buhay ang kabuhayan…...