NIA denies ghost projects, seeks bigger 2027 budget

The National Irrigation Authority (NIA) on Tuesday denied having ghost or substandard projects as it appealed to Congress for a higher budget for 2027.

NIA administrator Eddie Guillen said that for the past three years, the agency has been making do with the funding available for its programs and projects while ensuring that these are implemented free of corruption.

"If you look at NIA, we have no reported ghost projects or substandard projects,” he said in Filipino during a budget briefing at the House of Representatives.

Guillen said the agency had invited the Senate to inspect its construction methods and project implementation and to speak with farmers about any complaints against NIA.

"In fact, previously, we invited the Senate to personally inspect our construction methods and project implementation and talk to farmers to see if they had any complaints against NIA," he said.

The NIA's proposed budget for next year is pegged at P47.43 billion, nearly 80% lower than the P233 billion it requested.

“For NIA’s FY 2027 proposed budget, the agency proposed a total of P233 billion. We fully understand and respect your concern about the equitable distribution of NIA’s budget, as each district has farmers who need reliable irrigation,” Guillen said.

“However, the FY 2027 net provides only P47.43 billion, which is lower than our 2026 budget of P64 billion,” he added.

KAMANGGAGAWA Party-list Rep. Eli San Fernando, for his part, said many agricultural areas had complained about the lack of irrigation systems.

“The areas that need irrigation still haven't been provided for. You build irrigation systems where there is no water. Yet in places with excess water, you don't build projects to maximize that extra water,” the lawmaker said.

“My point here is that irrigation remains a recurring problem. Then we are told there is a master plan. So when exactly will that master plan be completed?” he added.

In response, Guillen said the NIA's limited budget prevented the agency from adding more projects.

“And if you noticed, most of the projects in the budget proposal we submitted are ongoing. We can barely add new projects, which is why NIA is focusing on completing its ongoing projects,” he said.

Guillen also invited the House to inspect NIA projects.

“The Senate leadership was very pleased. So I would like to extend the same invitation to the House. Let's visit and inspect NIA's projects,” he said.

"We cannot be expected to have impressive accomplishments when our budget allocation is so small," he added.

San Fernando, however, rejected Guillen's explanation.

“Please don't throw the blame back at Congress. You're putting the problem back on us. You say you don't have substandard or ghost projects, but farmers on the ground are saying otherwise,” the lawmaker said.

Guillen responded that he was simply appealing for a higher budget for the agency.

“I am grateful to you for all your help over the past three years. The record shows that Congress has been increasing our budget. You have the power of the purse, and that is where NIA is appealing for help,” Guillen said.

San Fernando also asked NIA to submit irrigation projects under the agrarian reform fund. Guillen committed to comply with the request.— MCG, GMA News