‘Delays cost money for they tend to bloat the original cost estimates for projects…’
THE government pays hundreds of millions of pesos for various irrigation canals, small water-impounding projects, and mini dams for agricultural purposes, mainly the production of rice, and the money is coursed through the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) for implementation.
The government also allocates hundreds of millions to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for flood control.
Thinkers and planners both in the government and the private sector might be accused of being simplistic but the basic solution to effect a productive synergy in government projects is to look into the possibility of merging flood control, also known as water management, and agricultural irrigation projects. That way, a key infrastructure project will serve the purposes of agriculture and the environment.
At a recent media forum, NIA Administrator Eduardo Guillen said the Marcos administration was able to advance its programs, despite minimal funding, through its collaboration with the DPWH.
Guillen cited as a “paradigm shift” convergence efforts in flood control and effective water management that would enable the Philippines achieve rice self-sufficiency under the Marcos administration.
The convergence program between NIA and the DPWH will integrate flood control projects into other structures needed for irrigation. The DPWH has about P349 billion for its flood control programs for 2024.
Administrator Guillen pointed out that “instead of a small water-impounding project, you can make it a water management flood control project. So, I can say that this is a huge thing, and this is a game changer in agriculture.”
He underscored the importance of such convergence projects — which will help boost irrigation facilities — such as diversion dams and water-impounding projects. Irrigation facilities will also help resolve low productivity and eventually realize the administration’s food security targets, he added.
There are of course big-ticket DPWH projects that may not be conducive to tweaking. Examples are the projects in three big river basins namely Allah River in South Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat and Maguindanao, the Ilog-Hilabangan River in Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental, and the Aklan River in Aklan. Studies on the water management of these rivers are ongoing, financed by the Asian Development Bank.
Another point to be considered in the idea of convergence of water management projects is the opposing objectives of the projects. Flood control is part of environmental engineering. It involves the management of flood water movement, such as redirecting flood run-off through the use of flood walls and flood gates, rather than trying to prevent floods altogether. Irrigation facilities, meanwhile, allow the impounding of water volumes to be used in agriculture. These objectives may not be met at the same time in some instances, considering variations in geography, water sources, etc.
The threat of the La Niña phenomenon with its heavy rains, storms and typhoons makes it imperative for the government to avoid delays in ongoing flood control projects. Delays cost money for they tend to bloat the original cost estimates for projects, and lengthens the waiting time of the public for its use of the facilities.
Guillen said there are efforts to acquire additional funds for new irrigation projects to avoid delays. Last year, NIA requested a budget of P80 billion for 2024, or double the PP40 billion for 2023. Only P70.22 billion was approved, with P28 billion utilized for new solar-powered irrigation projects that are expected to improve rice production in the country.
Recently, President Marcos Jr. inaugurated the P65.77-million Cabaruan Solar-Powered Pump Irrigation Project in Quirino town, Isabela, the biggest solar-powered pump irrigation system in the country. Since this involves water management in the province, the issue of flood control in Quirino, Isabela and other adjacent areas were taken into consideration in the implementation of this project.
Administrator Guillen and DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan should better strengthen their coordination and cooperation to identify areas wherein convergence of projects may be feasible and cost-effective.
