MANILA — Senator Raffy Tulfo has challenged National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator Eduardo Guillen to resign if it is proven that the Bulo Small Reservoir in San Jose, Bulacan is structurally defective, amid questions over repairs funded by the government.

During Senate plenary debates on NIA’s proposed 2026 budget, Tulfo presented video footage comparing his office’s inspections of the reservoir in 2023 and 2025. He said the visuals showed no significant improvements despite funds released for rehabilitation works.

Tulfo’s Senate staff is set to inspect the facility, and he urged NIA to conduct a joint inspection to determine whether repairs were carried out and if the structure can withstand extreme weather.

The Bulo Small Reservoir, built from 2014 and completed in 2022, sustained heavy damage during Typhoon Kardingin 2023. However, Tulfo said subsequent repairs appeared “superficial,” pointing to field inspection footage showing a thin layer of cement easily peeling off and water quickly seeping through the structure.

“Alam naman ng NIA na lahat ng mga probinsya na pinaglalagyan nila ng irrigation project ay dinadaanan ng typhoon,” Tulfo said. “Isn’t it about time na they set a standard — kahit signal No. 5 pa iyan — it can withstand that kind of extreme weather condition? Kasi sa ngayon, every single time na magkakaroon ng bagyo, halos lahat ng irrigation project ng NIA ay nagigiba.”

He added that despite the multimillion-peso budget allocated for repairs, the improvements were inadequate.

The contractor for the project, R.A. Pahati Construction, has been flagged on the Sumbong sa Pangulo website for alleged involvement in anomalous flood control projects.

Administrator Guillen accepted the senator’s challenge, saying he would resign if joint inspections confirm the reservoir is defective.