MANILA — Senator Francis “Kiko” Pangilinan successfully sponsored and defended the P54.79-billion budget of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) for the 2026 fiscal year, emphasizing the need to expand irrigation systems, support farmers, and enhance food security.

The budget includes a P50-million allocation for transparency measures, such as a public online dashboard, with Pangilinan stressing that “transparency is key to public accountability.”

The senator’s sponsorship follows NIA’s compliance with requests from Senate President Pro Tempore Panfilo Lacson, Senator Raffy Tulfo, and Senator Rodante Marcoleta for updated reports on various NIA projects. These cover the operational capacity of 265 national irrigation systems, inspection reports on Small Reservoir Irrigation Projects, lists of contractors and farmer-beneficiaries, and compliance documents for high dam contracts.

In his opening statement last week, Pangilinan highlighted the importance of irrigation for Philippine agriculture. “Irrigation is the most powerful force multiplier in Philippine agriculture,” he said. “Sabi nga po kung walang tubig, walang tutubo. It is also our most effective climate adaptation tool, protecting farmers from drought, erratic rainfall, and extreme weather.”

The proposed budget will allow NIA to invest in national, communal, and pump irrigation systems; major multipurpose projects; and transparency measures. Pangilinan assured that these investments will ensure “water flows from river to canal, canal to field, and field to Filipino households through affordable food.”

The funds will also support the construction, rehabilitation, expansion, and monitoring of irrigation systems nationwide.

As chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Food, and Agrarian Reform, Pangilinan said that increasing the budget for the agriculture department and its attached agencies like NIA will promote rural development, improve the lives of farmers and fisherfolk, strengthen local food production, and contribute to national food security.