BBM Eyes More Big Dams

President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. pledged to allocate adequate funding for the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to support the country’s irrigation programs.

President Marcos stressed the importance of building large dams for irrigation and other uses. I Photo: Manila Water X

In a meeting with NIA officials at Malacañang Palace, President Marcos stressed the importance of building large dams for irrigation and other uses.

Under NIA’s 2025 Programs, Activities, and Projects (PAPs), ₱20.84 billion has been allocated for the Pump Irrigation Sub-Program, and ₱7.88 billion for Stage 2 of the Ilocos Norte-Ilocos Sur-Abra Irrigation Project (INISAIP).

The Balog-Balog Multipurpose Project Phase II in Tarlac received ₱2.49 billion, while ₱99.5 million was earmarked for the Special Irrigation Sub-Program.

“We need to have those big dams,” President Marcos said, referring to NIA’s funding under the 2025 General Appropriations Act (GAA). “The ₱22 billion is in the GAA—₱22.882 billion. I believe we still have some savings there,” he added.

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

He also highlighted plans to modernize irrigation systems and service roads to address the impacts of climate change.

Present at 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. National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Arsenio Balisacan, Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs Frederick Go, and Presidential Communications Office (PCO) Acting Secretary Cesar Chavez also attended.