The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has announced funding for the development of three major dam projects to boost agricultural productivity in the country. At a public forum Tuesday, NIA administrator Eduardo Guillen revealed the projects provide vital irrigation services to thousands of hectares of farmland while generating renewable energy.
The dams, which will collectively serve up to 42,000 hectares of agricultural land, have a combined power capacity of 67 megawatts (MW). The projects include a key development in Tarlac, where the Balog Balog dam will expand irrigation coverage from the current 12,000 hectares to an additional 20,000 hectares. This project will also incorporate a hydroelectric component, with the potential to produce 40 MW of electricity.
In addition, a dam project in Abra will provide irrigation services to 12,000 hectares of land and generate up to 20 MW of power, while the Tumauini dam in Isabela will service another 10,000 hectares and produce 7 MW of electricity. These initiatives are expected to have a far-reaching impact on agriculture, aquaculture, tourism, and even flood control, according to Guillen.
“These are long-term solutions that will not only boost food production but also support sustainable power generation and infrastructure development,” Guillen said. He also emphasized the multi-purpose nature of the projects, which aim to address both irrigation needs and environmental challenges.
The Abra dam project, already approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), is advertised for bidding next week. Meanwhile, the Tumauini project is anticipated to open for bidding by February or March this year. Both projects are slated for completion in approximately five years, though Guillen noted that concurrent construction efforts could accelerate the timeline.
The NIA, recently transferred to the Office of the President from the Department of Agriculture, remains the lead agency responsible for water resources development in the country. Thefocus on these major dam projects underscores the government commitment to advance agricultural productivity and enhance energy security through sustainable infrastructure.
