MR. PRESIDENT, DISTINGUISHED COLLEAGUES. TODAY WE PRESENT THE 2026 BUDGET OF THE NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION, AMOUNTING TO 54.79 BILLION PESOS.
IRRIGATION IS THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE MULTIPLIER IN PHILIPPINE AGRICULTURE. SABI NGA PO KUNG WALANG TUBIG, WALANG TUTUBO. IT IS ALSO OUR MOST EFFECTIVE CLIMATE ADAPTATION TOOL, PROTECTING FARMERS FROM DROUGHT, ERRATIC RAINFALL, AND EXTREME WEATHER.
THE PROPOSED 2026 NIA BUDGET INVESTS IN NATIONAL, COMMUNAL, AND PUMP IRRIGATION SYSTEMS; MAJOR MULTIPURPOSE PROJECTS; AND TRANSPARENCY MEASURES — ENSURING WATER FLOWS FROM RIVER TO CANAL, CANAL TO FIELD, AND FIELD TO FILIPINO HOUSEHOLDS THROUGH AFFORDABLE FOOD. IT SUPPORTS CONSTRUCTION, REHABILITATION, EXPANSION, AND MONITORING OF IRRIGATION SYSTEMS NATIONWIDE.
THE SENATE COMMITTEE REPORT RESTORED NEP-LEVEL FUNDING FOR KEY ITEMS UNDER THE IRRIGATION RESTORATION PROGRAM: NATIONAL IRRIGATION SYSTEM SUB-PROGRAM AT 10.077 BILLION PESOS; COMMUNAL IRRIGATION SYSTEM SUB-PROGRAM AT 5.023 BILLION PESOS; AND OTHER IRRIGATION SYSTEMS AT 630.605 MILLION PESOS.
WE ALSO RESTORED TO NEP LEVELS THE IRRIGATION SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM: EXTENSION / EXPANSION OF EXISTING SYSTEMS AT 851 MILLION PESOS, ESTABLISHMENT OF PUMP IRRIGATION SYSTEMS AT 5.221 BILLION PESOS, AND SPECIAL IRRIGATION SUB-PROGRAM AT 2.099 BILLION PESOS.
UNDER LOCALLY FUNDED PROJECTS, WE ADDED 45 MILLION PESOS TO THE ANGAT AFTERBAY REGULATOR DAM ALSO KNOWN AS BUSTOS DAM.
WE ALSO ADDED 500 MILLION PESOS TO THE ILOCOS NORTE-ILOCOS SUR-ABRA STAGE 2 PROJECT, EXPANDING IRRIGATION IN REGION I AND ADJACENT UPLAND PROVINCES.
FOR THE TUMAUINI RIVER MULTI-PURPOSE PROJECT IN ISABELA, WE AUGMENTED THE BUDGET IN THE AMOUNT OF 513.38 MILLION PESOS TO ENSURE STABLE WATER SUPPLY FOR MAJOR AGRICULTURAL AREAS IN NORTHERN LUZON.
FINALLY, WE ADDED 50 MILLION PESOS TO THE OPERATING SUBSIDY FOR TRANSPARENCY MEASURES. THIS AIMS TO SUPPORT A PUBLIC ONLINE DASHBOARD DETAILING PROJECT TIMELINES, STATUS, FINANCES, CONTRACTS, CONTRACTORS, AND GEO-TAGGED PHOTOS.
TRANSPARENCY IS KEY TO PUBLIC ACCOUNTABILITY.
MR. PRESIDENT, THIS REPRESENTATION, TOGETHER WITH MY STAFF, LBRMO, AND THE NIA FAMILY HEADED BY NIA ADMINISTRATOR GUILLIEN, ARE READY TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTIONS. SALAMAT PO.
WORD COUNT: 367
[1] From OSFNP letter to Sen. Gatchalian on NIA 2026 budget