President Marcos has committed to provide adequate funds for the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) as he said he is bent on building large dams in the country.
In a meeting with NIA officials at Malacañan Palace on Wednesday, Jan. 15, Marcos emphasized the importance of constructing large dams not only for irrigation but also for other purposes.
"The big dams, we need to have that," Marcos said, referring to NIA funding under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA).
"The P22 billion, that's in the GAA, P22.882 [billion], that's in the GAA. Palagay ko mayroon pa tayong savings diyan (I think we still have savings there)," Marcos added.
Under NIA's 2025 programs, activities and projects, the agency allocated P20.84 billion for the Pump Irrigation Sub-Program and P7.88 billion for Stage 2 of the Ilocos Norte-Ilocos Sub-Abra Irrigation Project.
Earmarked for the Balog-Balog Multipurpose Project Phase II in Tarlac was P2.49 billion while P99.5 million was set aside for the Special Irrigation Sub-Program.
According to NIA Administrator Eduardo Eddie Guillen, the agency's objectives include enhancing irrigation efficiency, ensuring continuous operation of existing irrigation service areas and maintaining current irrigated lands.
Guillen also highlighted plans to improve service roads along irrigation canals.
The programs and projects under NIA will incorporate technological interventions and modernization of irrigation systems to mitigate the effects of climate change, he said.