Marcos: PH needs big dams, vows funding for irrigation programs
FILE PHOTO: President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., September 12, 2024. Photo from PCO
MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Wednesday stressed the need for “big dams” in the country and vowed to provide enough funds for irrigation programs.
Marcos made the pronouncement during a meeting with officials of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) at Malacañang, where he stressed the need to construct large dams for irrigation and other purposes.
“The big dams. We need to have that,” Marcos said, as quoted by the Presidential Communications Office (PCO) in a statement.
“TheP22.882 [billion], that’s in the GAA. Palagay ko mayroon pa tayong savings diyan (I believe we still have savings there),” he added.
He then committed to providing adequate NIA funds to support the country’s irrigation programs.
Under the NIA’s 2025 programs, activities, and projects (PAPs), the agency allocated P20.84 billion for the Pump Irrigation Sub-Program and P7.88 billion for Stage 2 of the Ilocos Norte-Ilocos Sub-Abra Irrigation Project.
Earmarked for the Balog-Balog Multipurpose Project Phase II in Tarlac was P2.49 billion, while P99.5 million was set aside for the Special Irrigation Sub-Program.
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NIA Administrator Eduardo Eddie Guillen, for his part, outlined the agency’s objectives to enhance irrigation efficiency, ensure continuous operation of existing irrigation service areas, and maintain current irrigated lands during the meeting.
He also added that NIA PAPs aim to incorporate technological interventions and modernization of irrigation systems to mitigate the effects of climate change.
