MANILA — Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan has proposed the inclusion of transparency and accountability mechanisms in irrigation projects implemented by the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) to prevent a repeat of past anomalies.

The senator, who chairs the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, stressed that corruption-free and efficiently monitored irrigation projects are key to improving agricultural productivity and strengthening food security.

“On the issue of monitoring, precisely, we are introducing a transparency special provision in the budget, and an allocation of about P50M for (a) public online dashboard,” Pangilinan said during his sponsorship of NIA’s proposed 2026 budget.

“In other words, kasama diyan ang photos, geo-tagging, pangalan ng contractors, amount, status ng proyekto, at ito ay kasama sa mandato for purposes of transparency for all NIA projects,” he added.

In a subcommittee report submitted to Senator Win Gatchalian, chair of the Senate Committee on Finance, Pangilinan emphasized additional budget allocations for three special provisions: Transparency of Irrigation Projects, Citizen Participatory Audit, and Quarterly Reporting Requirement.

Under these provisions, NIA will be required to maintain a public online dashboard showing project timelines, status, finances (obligated, disbursed, source of funds), awarded contracts, contractors, and geo-tagged photos taken at key stages—start, midpoint, and completion.

“This will enable real-time monitoring of project implementation and ensure that information on project status, contracts, and fund utilization is accessible to the public and oversight agencies,” the report stated.

The report also highlighted the importance of NIA supporting the Citizen Participatory Audit Program of the Commission on Audit (COA) to empower civil society in auditing government activities and ensuring proper use of funds.

Additionally, the quarterly reporting provision mandates that NIA submit reports to the House Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Finance detailing the status, implementation progress, financial and physical accomplishments, and any issues affecting the completion of irrigation projects.

Gatchalian noted that Pangilinan’s intervention identifies each irrigation project with exact coordinates, rather than providing lump-sum amounts in the National Expenditure Program.

“So thank you, Sen. Kiko Pangilinan, for that very important intervention so that our constituents now can follow to the last project kung saan po yung irrigation projects sa kanilang lokalidad,” Gatchalian said.

Pangilinan expressed hope that all government agencies handling infrastructure projects would specify project details and coordinates in their proposed budgets to enhance transparency and accountability.