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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Erwin Tulfo questions lack of new irrigation projects in NIA's 2026 budget

Erwin Tulfo questions lack of new irrigation projects in NIA's 2026 budget

Published Nov 20, 2025 04:54 pm

At A Glance

  • Senator Erwin Tulfo on Thursday, Nov. 20, asked the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) whether it plans to build any new irrigation systems or dams in 2026, noting that the agency is still dealing with a long list of unfinished contracts.
Senator Erwin Tulfo on Thursday, Nov. 20, asked the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) whether it plans to build any new irrigation systems or dams in 2026, noting that the agency is still dealing with a long list of unfinished contracts.
Senator Erwin Tulfo (Senate PRIB photo)
Senator Erwin Tulfo (Senate PRIB photo)
During his interpellation on NIA’s proposed ₱54.79-billion budget for 2026, Tulfo said the agency has 161 incomplete contracts, originally scheduled for completion between 2021 and 2023, amounting to ₱2.04 billion. He said NIA may spend most of next year “catching up” on these projects.
“So wala po silang maku-construct this coming year ng mga new irrigation system, canal, dams, etc., Mr. President? (So they won’t be able to construct any new irrigation systems, canals, dams, etc., this coming year, Mr. President?)” Tulfo asked.
Responding to the questions, Senator Francis "Kiko" Pangilinan, who is sponsoring NIA’s budget, said the agency has a “multi-pronged” program that includes new projects, repair and restoration, and extensions. He said some new irrigation projects are set for Regions 1, 2, and 3, including the Tumauini project in Region 2.
Pangilinan added that NIA continues to implement multi-year projects, though not all of the funding it requested was approved under the National Expenditure Program (NEP).
Tulfo, however, noted that NIA’s NEP submission lists only Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses (MOOE) and does not reflect new construction under capital outlay.
“If you will construct new irrigation projects, why is this not in the capital outlay? Puro MOOE lamang po ito. Saan po huhugutin ninyo yung mga bagong proyekto? (This is all just MOOE (Maintenance and Other Operating Expenses). Where will you get the funds for the new projects?)” he asked.
Pangilinan explained that because NIA is a government-owned and controlled corporation, the Department of Budget and Management classifies its budget as a subsidy under MOOE rather than capital outlay, a practice he said also applies to other GOCCs.
As the discussion turned to budget constraints, both senators noted the difficulty of accommodating various agencies’ appeals for additional funds, with Pangilinan mentioning the possibility of tracking the “running total” of all add-on requests being raised in the plenary.
Tulfo quipped that the Senate finance chair, Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, must be convinced to increase NIA’s funding, remarking that he “was already scratching his head” earlier while listening to the interpellations.

Related Tags

Erwin Tulfo National Irrigation Administration (NIA) 2026 budget Kiko Pangilinan
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