President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has given the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) a new project marching order to finish the PhP14-billion Tumauini dam in Isabela as the country gears toward boosting agricultural production to ensure food security.

“Well, ito po iyong mga future na target niya, itong Tumauini Dam ipapa-build na po namin itong 2020 for bidding pa lang po ito… in fact iyong bagong project marching order niya (President Marcos) sa atin tapusin na iyan. Dahil ilang, dalawang Presidente na taga-Tarlac ano diyan hindi nila matapos,” NIA Administrator Eduardo Guillen told a news forum in Quezon City on Saturday.

Guillen, however, mentioned some dam projects that are near completion or already complete like the Jalaur Dam in Panay province, which will be turned over on July 16.

This is in addition to a dam project in Ilocos Norte, which will be turned over on July 19. There is also a similar project in Bohol, he added.

“May mga pinapatapos din sa akin na projects, pina-fast track niya, fast track naman po natin. So, iyon mga target naming matapos during his term for bidding na po natin,” Guillen said.

There are also possible projects that could be implemented in Mindanao, such as in Bukidnon, which has great potential for dam construction, he added.

Aside from building high dams in the country’s major river basins, NIA is also carrying out short-term, medium-term, and long-term projects.

These include irrigation restoration projects, solar-powered irrigation systems, and construction of small river impounding projects, Guillen said. | PND