(Eagle News)–The National Irrigation Administration has said it expects to complete 20 medium-term projects and three to five long-term projects until 2028.
NIA Administrator Eduardo Guillen said these include the Tumauini Dam in Isabela, as well as dam projects in Ilocos Norte and Ilocos Sur.
In the Visayas, meanwhile, he said NIA was building the Jalaur Dam.
Other projects in the Panay River Basin, in addition to smaller or medium-sized dams, are also to be undertaken.
“And then marami po sa Mindanao actually lalo rito sa may along Pulangi River – iyong Antung Dam; iyong Lower Malitubog – patapos na nga kami doon sa MALMAR II namin ano po, malaki rin po iyon nasa 12,000 hectares din po iyon. And then itutuloy namin ang MALMAR – iyong Lower Malitubog na tinatawag,” he added.
According to Guillen, the moves are amid President Bongbong Marcos’ statement that more dams should be built to solve the country’s water challenges.
He said high dams or those spanning 100 meters have multiple uses in flood control, irrigation, power generation, aquaculture, bulk water, floating solar, and tourism.
While the Philippines has its share of high dams, he said these were built more than 50 years ago.
“May bawi po tayo kapag high dam. So ito po ang focus ng ating Pangulo ngayon,” he added.
