Seeking to enhance the nation's agricultural environment, the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) is hoping that the government will allocate P200 billion annually for dam-related projects.

In a Malacañang media briefing on Tuesday, Feb. 28, NIA Administrator Eddie Guillen said it is “ideal” if the government will implement P200 billion worth of damn projects to change the agricultural landscape of the country.

"Well, ideal sana… Para sa akin, sa tingin ko lang, mayroon sanang ma-implement ang gobyerno na P200 billion worth of dam projects para lamang mabago natin ang agricultural landscape (Well, it’s ideal… For me, in my opinion, I hope the government implements P200 billion worth of dam projects to change our agricultural landscape),” he said, saying such projects will positively impact the country’s tourism sector and flood mitigation.

“Sana ‘yung budget [ay] per year (Hopefully the budget will be given annually),” he continued.

The dams, according to him, will not solely be used to irrigation as some have “power components.”

Guillen said that the NIA had previously presented President Ferdinand “Bongbong” T. Marcos Jr. with the national food security convergence program, which aims to improve irrigation and provide assistance to Filipino farmers.

During their recent meeting with the chief executive, Guillen said Marcos ordered the NIA and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to collaborate in order to expedite the implementation of irrigation projects.