President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. committed to provide adequate funds for the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to support the country’s irrigation programs.

In a meeting with NIA officials at Malacañan Palace on Wednesday, President Marcos emphasized the importance of constructing large dams not only for irrigation but also for other purposes.

Under NIA’s 2025 programs, activities and projects (PAPs), the agency allocated PhP20.84 billion for the Pump Irrigation Sub-Program and PhP7.88 billion for Stage 2 of the Ilocos Norte-Ilocos Sub-Abra Irrigation Project (INISAIP).

Earmarked for the Balog-Balog Multipurpose Project Phase II in Tarlac was PhP2.49 billion while PhP99.5 million was set aside for the Special Irrigation Sub-Program.

“The big dams. We need to have that,” President Marcos said, referring to NIA funding under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).

“The PhP22 billion, that’s in the GAA, PhP22.882 [billion], that’s in the GAA. Palagay ko mayroon pa tayong savings diyan,” President Marcos said.

President Marcos met with NIA officials to discuss the agency’s strategic plans and projects for 2025.

NIA Administrator Eduardo Eddie Guillen outlined the agency’s objectives to enhance irrigation efficiency, ensure continuous operation of existing irrigation service areas and maintain current irrigated lands.

Guillen also highlighted plans to improve service roads along irrigation canals.

The PAPs will incorporate technological interventions and modernization of irrigation systems to mitigate the effects of climate change, he said.

Present during the meeting were Department of Agriculture (DA) Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Department of Finance Secretary Ralph Recto, and Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Amenah Pangandaman.

NEDA Secretary Arsenio Balisacan was also present during the meeting along with Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go and PCO Acting Secretary Cesar Chavez. | PND