NIA caps 2025 with excellent governance rating, flagship dam projects, AI-driven irrigation revolution

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Philstar.com

December 23, 2025 | 5:00pm

MANILA, Philippines — The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is marking three years under the leadership of administrator Eddie Guillen with key gains in irrigation development, food security support, modern, data-driven and climate-resilient systems and infrastructures, and institutional governance reforms since his appointment in December 2022.

Excellent governance milestone

A defining achievement for NIA in 2025 is the restoration of public and institutional trust. For the First time in a decade, the agency achieved an "Excellent" rating of 89.58% on the Corporate Governance Scorecard (CGS) from the Governance Commission for GOCCs (GCG).

This represents a remarkable 13.87% increase from the previous year, signaling that the reforms initiated at the start of the administration have taken deep root.

“The Excellent rating is the direct result of our 3 Rights Philosophy: Right Project, Right Price and Right Quality. By institutionalizing rigorous project validation, NIA has ensured that every peso of Filipino taxpayer money is converted into functional, durable irrigation canals and dams,” said Guillen.

The 2025 Right Campaign has effectively minimized delays and ensured that projects are turned over to Irrigators’ Associations (IAs) in good operational condition.

Infrastructure that shields and feeds

In 2025, NIA’s infrastructure strategy shifted towards "multipurpose convergence." The agency recognized that, in the face of a changing climate, a dam must do more than just watering crops; it must also protect communities and provide energy.

The Union Water Impounding Dam in Cagayan, inaugurated in October 2025, serves as the flagship for this convergence model. By managing the flow of the Cadcadir River, the project provides year-round irrigation to seven barangays while acting as a critical Flood control barrier for the Cagayan Valley.

In the Visayas, the Jalaur River Multi-Purpose Project – Stage II (JRMP-II) in Iloilo reached a milestone this year. With the approval of a P5.9-billion supplemental budget, the construction of the high line canal was fast-tracked.

Even before its full completion, the project demonstrated its value in late 2024 and throughout 2025 by storing nearly 20 million cubic meters of water during the monsoon season, preventing potentially catastrophic Flooding in Iloilo’s downstream municipalities.

In Bohol, the P813-million Calunasan Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (Calunasan SRIP) was officially turned over in September 2025. The project highlights the administration's commitment to "small-scale but high-impact" projects, providing 400 farming families with the security of a second cropping season, effectively doubling their annual income.

Meanwhile in Mindanao, the Malitubog-Maridagao Irrigation Project – Stage II (MMIP-II) which saw significant progress in 2025, now services over 9,500 hectares.

“MMIP-II serves areas inhabited by former combatants. When the water flows, productivity follows and armed conflict recedes,” said Guillen.

Perhaps the most visible change is the rise of the solar-powered irrigation systems (SPISs). To combat the rising costs of diesel and the threat of El Nin?o, NIA completed over 180 solar pump sites across the country in 2025.

Projects like the Castañas Centro SPIP in Quezon have become symbols of this green revolution. By replacing fossil fuels with solar energy, IAs have reported savings of up to P80,000 per cropping season.

Digital leap: The NIA Command Center

The administration has successfully brought the Philippine irrigation system into the digital age. In November 2025, NIA fully operationalized the NIA Command Center, a high-tech hub that utilizes AI-driven weather forecasting through the Tomorrow.io platform.

This technology allows NIA to provide "science-based" planting calendars to farmers, warning them of impending dry spells or heavy rains weeks in advance. By integrating satellite imagery and real-time dam level monitoring, NIA has moved from a reactive to a proactive stance in disaster management.

This digital leap ensures that water distribution is optimized, reducing wastage and ensuring that tail end farms receive their fair share of water.

As NIA looks toward 2026, it carries the momentum of a P45.07-billion budget recently approved by the senate. This funding will scale up the re-fleeting program, which has already distributed over 500 units of heavy equipment to regional offices, ensuring that canal maintenance is handled with speed and efficiency.

Editor’s Note: This press release from National Irrigation Administration is published by the Advertising Content Team that is independent from our Editorial Newsroom.