The proposed PHP54.79-billion budget of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) for 2026 is designed to strengthen the country’s irrigation network and ensure reliable water supply needed to sustain agricultural productivity, Sen. Francis Pangilinan said Thursday.

Presenting the budget before the Senate, Pangilinan said every major item in the spending plan supports the construction, rehabilitation, expansion and monitoring of irrigation systems.

“Irrigation is the most powerful force multiplier in Philippine agriculture. Kung walang tubig, walang tutubo (If there is no water, nothing will grow),” he said.

He said the proposed budget restores National Expenditure Program-level funding for the Irrigation Restoration Program, including PHP10.08 billion for national irrigation systems, PHP5.02 billion for communal systems and PHP630.61 million for other irrigation structures.

For expansion, Pangilinan said the budget supports the Irrigation Systems Development Program, which allocates PHP851 million for extension and expansion of existing systems, PHP5.22 billion for establishing pump irrigation systems and PHP2.1 billion for special irrigation sub-programs.

The spending plan reinforces key locally funded projects needed to increase irrigation coverage in major agricultural areas.

These include PHP45 million for the Angat Afterbay Regulator (Bustos) Dam, PHP500 million for the Ilocos Norte–Ilocos Sur–Abra Stage 2 Project, and PHP513.38 million for the Tumauini River Multi-Purpose Project in Isabela.

To strengthen accountability, Pangilinan said PHP50 million is allotted for transparency measures, including the development of an online dashboard that will show project timelines, budgets, contracts, contractors and geo-tagged progress photos. (PNA)