Number of delayed NIA projects in 2023 up 94 percent from the year before – COA

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THE Commission on Audit (COA) has expressed alarm at a 94 percent increase in the number of irrigation contracts that incurred delays ranging from one month to over three years.

In the 2023 audit of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) released on February 1, 2025, government auditors revealed that 161 irrigation projects recorded delays of between 31 to 1,113 calendar days. These were programmed to be completed by 2021, 2022, and 2023 but missed the target turnover dates.

“Compared with (the) prior year’s data, the number of irrigation contracts/projects that incurred delays in the implementation increased by 94 percent or 78 contracts/projects from 83 in CY 2022 to 161 in CY 2023,” the audit team said.

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NIA Regional Offices that posted the biggest number of delayed projects were Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) with 36, NIA-Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (MARIIS) with 30, Isabela-Irrigation Management Office (IMO) with 25, Lamisca-IMO (Lanao del Norte-Misamis Occidental-Misamis Oriental-Camiguin) with 23, and NIA Regional Office 2 with 19.

Cagayan-Batanes IMO had nine projects delayed, Eastern-Western Samar IMO (EWSIMO) had eight, Northern Samar IMO had seven while the Quirino IMO, NIA Region Office 7, NIA Regional Office 11, and Davao Oriental IMO all had one project delayed each.

In total value, the COA said the 161 delayed contracts were worth P2.042 billion.

In terms of contract cost, NIA RO2 had the most expensive projects bogged by delays totaling P1.041 billion.

Behind it were Lamisca-IMO with P216.35 million, Isabela IMO with P183.08 million, and MARIIS with P161.63 million.

Among the hardest hit by the contractors’ failure to comply with the project timetable were farmers who were relying on water supply to improve the productivity of their farm lots.

Based on records obtained by the audit team, the NIA cited various justifications for the delays including unworkable work site due to flooding; poor performance by contractors, insufficient manpower and equipment; variation orders or modification of designs or program of work; unresolved right-of-way issues; and the existence of standing crops.

To make matters worse, another 75 pending projects were either suspended by the NIA or granted contract time extensions (CTEs) with a combined value of P5.063 billion and another one with foreign funding amounting to $193.494 million.

“In view of the significant delays, ranging from 31 to 1,113 calendar days in the completion of 161 irrigation contracts/projects and the suspension of and/or granting of CTEs on 76 irrigation contracts/projects, the intended beneficiaries were not able to promptly benefit from these irrigation projects,” the COA said.

Among the steps recommended by the auditors to NIA were the rescinding or termination of the contract and the forfeiture of the contractor’s performance security as well as the filing of cases against them in court.

At the same time, they pointed out that administrative sanctions should be imposed against NIA officials and personnel who were remiss in their duties in planning and monitoring the implementation of the projects to meet completion deadlines. 

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