SIXTEENTH CONGRESS OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
S.B. NO.i4 
'1) Jill --1 
AS;59· 
Introduced by SENATOR FERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR. 
Explanatory Note 
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) was created by law in 
1963 primarily to address the needs of the "Irrigation Age", and 
specifically to, "investigate and study all available and possible water 
resources in the Philippines, primarily for irrigation purposes; to plan, 
design, construct cmd/or improve all types of irrigation projects and 
appurtenant structures" (Section 2, R.A. 3601, as amended by P.O. 552 
and P.D. 1702). For this purpose, the NIA has been given the necessary 
flexibility of a corporate vehicle and the administrative autonomy to 
pursue its statutory objectives. 
The Department of Agriculture, in its 2011 yearend Report, gives the 
following account: 
"The a9riculture and fisheries sector has proven its resilience in 
the face of severe natural disasters. Recovering from the long dry 
spell in 2010, both palay and corn recorded 15.9% growth in volume 
at production levels of 10.75 million metric tons of rice and 5.49 
million metric tons of corn. Agricultural production volume grew by 
4.28 percent in the first nine months of 2011, a marked improvement 
over the 2.81 percent decline during the same period in 2010. It is 
worth noting that the growth achieved in rice production is the 
highest in the last 10 years." 
(Website of the Department of 
Agriculture) . 
This remarkable achievement mirrors the continuing efforts of the 
Government to address the growing agricultural needs of the country, 
and to provide stable food supply to every Filipino home. 
However, the imminent effects of climate change pose a great 
challenge to the agriculture sector. The gains we have achieved could 
be devastated by natural calamities and disasters. 


Hence, we need to establish a progressive and effective irrigation 
method to accelerote agricultural production and be self sufficient in the 
coming years despite the challenges ahead. 
On reoching the NIA's half-century of its existence, there is a need 
for the Legislature to study the efficiency ond possibly reassess the 
capabilities and worthiness of the NIA in the agricultural sector and 
bureaucratic structure in general. 
Under existing law. NIA is obliged to only directly furnish a fiscal 
report to the Legislature and not a report of its operations and 
accomplishments. Thus, there is a need to require the NIA to directly 
furnish the House of Representatives and the Senate a detailed status 
report of its programs, accomplishments and failed targets for a period of 
five (5) years, to enable the Congress to determine its efficiency rate. 
This bill proposes to accelerate irrigation development in the 
country in order to address the pressing agricultural needs of our 
countrymen. It mOindates the National Irrigation Authority to come up 
programs and plans of action to achieve this goal, within three (3) years 
from the effectivity of this Act. 
In view of thereof, the passage of this bill is earnestl requested. 
1 
R. MARCOS, JR 


SIXTEENTH CONGRES.S OF THE 
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES 
First Regular Session 
SENATE 
SENATE BILL NO. 14 
"'13 
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1\ 8 59 
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Introduced by Senator fERDINAND R. MARCOS, JR. 
AN ACT MANDATING THE NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINSTRATION (NIA) 
TO ACCELERATE NATIONAL IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, AND 
APPROPRIATING FUNDS THEREFOR, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 
Be it enacted by the Senate and the House of Representatives of 
the Philippines in Congress Assembled: 
SECTION 1. mle. - This Act shall be known as "The National Irrigation 
Program of 2013." 
SECTION 2. Deciaration of Policy. - It is the policy of the State to 
pursue a comprehensive agricultural development, through effective and 
progressive irrigation programs. Guided by the principle of self-sufficiency, 
the agricultural sedor shall make full use of human and natural resources 
in order to attain greater productivity of all irrigable lands in the country. 
SECTION 3. Notional Irrigation Program. 
shall undertake a comprehensive irrigation 
following objectives: 
The National Government 
program, guided by the 
1. Generation, restoration and rehabilitation of the irrigation 
systems and facilities using progressive and modern irrigation 
methods; 
2. Reformulation and upgrading of the irrigation method through 
continued research and development and application of 
technological advancements in the field of irrigation; 
3. Acceleration of agriculturol production through on improved 
irrigation methods; 
4. Strengthened 
coordination 
with 
local 
government 
units, 
cooperatives, 
farmers' 
associations, 
non-governmental 
organizotions, ond technicol assistance ond development of the 
irrigation systems used in their respective areos and jurisdictions. 
SECTION 4. Expediting of Irrigation Development Progroms. - In line 
with the notional policy objectives, the NIA is mandated to expedite its 
irrigation development programs and be able to irrigate ninety-five 
percent (95%) of irrigable lands allover the country, within a period of 
three (3) years from the effectivity of this Act. After the lapse of the three-
year period, the Nil, shall then submit to Congress 0 detoiled report and 
satisfactory proof 01 its completion of the ninety-five-percent target. 


SECTION 5. Continuing Research and Development. The NIA shall 
conduct continuing research and development as well as application of 
technological advancements in the field of irrigation. 
SECTION 6. 
Technical Assistance to Local Government Units, 
Cooperatives, Farmers' Associations, Non-governmental Organizations. 
The NIA shall provide technical and financial assistance to local 
government 
units, 
cooperatives, 
farmers' 
associations, 
and 
non-
governmental organizations with respect to irrigation systems located, 
utilized, and managed in their respective jurisdictions. 
SECTION 7. Submission of Detailed Status Report to Congress. - The 
NIA is hereby mandated to furnish Congress a detailed status report of its 
programs, targets and accomplishments for the preceding five (5) years. 
This is without prejudice to the NIA's obligation to furnish Congress with a 
Fiscal Report under ,'\rticle VI, Section 11 of R.A. 3601. 
SECTION 8. Funding and Appropriation. - The amount necessary to 
carry out the initial implementation of this Act shall be charged to the NIA. 
Thereafter, such 
wms as 
may be necessary for the continued 
implementation of i his Act shall be included in the succeeding General 
Appropriations Act. 
SECTION 9. 
Separability Clause. - The provIsions of this Act are 
hereby declared to be separable and if any clause, sentence, provision 
or section of this Act, for any reason, be held invalid or unconstitutional, 
such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the other provisions or 
application of this Act which can be given force and effect. 
SECTION 
10. Repealing Clause. -
All laws, decrees, charters, 
executive 
orders, 
administrative 
orders, 
proclamations, 
rules 
and 
regUlations, or pari's thereof insofar as they are inconsistent with the 
provisions of this Act are hereby repealed or modified accordingly. 
SECTION 11. I:ffectivity. - This Act shall take effect fifteen (15) days 
after completion of publication in the Official Gazette or in a newspaper 
of general circulation. 
Approved,