The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is proposing the installation of shallow tube wells in vulnerable agricultural areas to help maintain irrigation water supply amid the ongoing El Niño.
Engr. Andres Bonie O. Tuala, chief of NIA’s Operations and Maintenance Section, said the agency has also proposed the rehabilitation of irrigation canals to improve the delivery of water to farmlands.
Tuala said the effects of El Niño are not yet significantly felt in NIA’s national irrigation systems, with water levels in dams remaining manageable.
He said NIA had identified areas vulnerable to water shortages even before the onset of El Niño.
The agency is currently verifying and validating data submitted by its field offices. Once validated, available funds may be released for proposed joint projects or participatory programs, with the input of farmer-beneficiaries considered in their implementation.
Tuala advised farmers to follow NIA advisories and recommendations to help ensure the proper management and distribution of available irrigation water. IMT
