Philippines Requires PHP200 Billion Annually to Irrigate Remaining Farmlands

Quezon City – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) announced on Saturday that an annual budget of PHP200 billion is necessary for the next decade to fully irrigate the Philippines’ remaining unirrigated agricultural lands.

According to Philippines News Agency, who spoke at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City, the Department of Agriculture reported in January that there are still at least 1.2 million hectares of unirrigated land in the country. To meet the government’s rice self-sufficiency goals, a total investment of at least PHP1.2 trillion is required over the next ten years. “For our remaining unirrigated land, we need at least PHP200 billion yearly for the next 10 years. If NIA has PHP200 billion, that would go a long way,” Guillen stated.

Guillen further explained that while the full amount is not expected to be immediately granted, there is hope that the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) will provide sufficient funds to advance NIA’s programs. He highlighted ongoing collaboration with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which is contributing to projects that include irrigation components. “I’m not expecting that they would give the full PHP200 billion because we are getting help from DPWH to fill the gaps,” he noted.

The NIA’s convergence efforts with DPWH include projects like the Sabo Dam, which is designed for both flood control and irrigation. Sabo dams control sediment transport, prevent riverbed aggradation, and mitigate water-induced disasters. Guillen criticized the lack of irrigation components in some DPWH projects, stressing that without them, the infrastructure fails to fulfill its potential. “What’s the use of DPWH putting a Sabo Dam if there’s no irrigation canal? That’s no longer their mandate,” he explained, urging the DBM to allocate appropriate funds to NIA for these essential components.