NIA assures public of enough water for irrigation

MANILA, Philippines — The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) assured the public of enough water supply for irrigation in farm lands in Bulacan and Pampanga amid the declining water levels of the Angat dam.

“As the NIA instructed the farmers serviced by the Angat-Maasim River Irrigation System (AMRIS) to adapt the adjusted cropping calendar, the dropping of the water level of Angat Dam, which allocates water for irrigation to Bulacan and Pampanga farmlands, poses no threat to the farmers,” it said.

The agency said this assurance was given by NIA deputy administrator for Engineering and Operations Sector C’zar Sulaik in a recent television interview.

Data from the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAG-ASA) showed that Angat Dam’s reservoir water level as of 6 a.m. Saturday registered at 195.71 meters, lower than the normal high level of 212 meters.

Sulaik said that this does not greatly affect the farmers in Bulacan and Pampanga who are benefitting from Angat Dam because their farmlands are already in their terminal drainage stage, the last cropping stage before harvesting, wherein water requirement is less.

The NIA has already conducted coordination meetings with Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) on the conduct of cloud seeding over the reservoir, which is scheduled on Mar.8.

Sulaik said earlier that mitigation measures are already in place considering the dam’s declining water levels, which were discussed during a meeting with the National Water Resources Board (NWRB), the MWSS and its concessionaires Maynilad Water Services Inc. and Manila Water Company Inc. in January.

Among these measures is the provision of shallow tube well (STW) pumps and corresponding fuel subsidies for Bulacan and Pampanga farmers.

The NIA reported earlier that STW pumps for Bulacan and Pampanga farmers have been turned over by the NWRB and the MWSS, along with its two concessionaires.

It added that the STW pumps were awarded to the Irrigators Associations of Bulacan and Pampanga.

Through the use of STW pumps, the farmers will be able to reuse water from drainage or creeks, according to the NIA.

“Aside from the 500 STW pumps, a corresponding fuel subsidy amounting to P15 million has also been granted by the MWSS through its water concessionaires,” it said.