The water-related agencies of government are coming together to optimize water use not just for agricultural purposes but also for power generation, bulk supply, aquaculture, recreation and tourism, among the resource’s other uses.
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), the Department of Environment and Natural Resources–Water Resource Management Office (DENR-WRMO) and the National Water Resources Board (NWRB) bound themselves to a memorandum of agreement (MOA) to repurpose the NIA’s water rights.
The NIA said the agreement seeks to hit the optimum use of irrigation water not just for agricultural use but for other purposes as well to generate a bigger revenue stream for the agency.
The MOA secures the unhampered provision of irrigation requirements to NIA’s agricultural land and other irrigable areas programmed for development.
Carlos Primo David, DENR-WRMO undersecretary, said the agreement also aims to solidify efforts ensuring water security in the country through various government agencies with water-related functions.
Under the agreement, the DENR, through both the NWRB and the DENR-WRMO, is tasked to conserve and protect water resources to meet changing needs under existing laws on water use and management.
The MOA is in line with Executive Order 22 creating the WRMO which is responsible for “the integration and harmonization of all government efforts and regulatory activities to ensure availability and sustainable management of water resources in the whole country.”
NIA serves as lead government agency responsible for developing all possible sources of water for irrigation.
