The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Region 1 is implementing a series of proactive measures to secure the water supply for Northern Luzon farmers as the region transitions into the dry season, an official announced Friday.

NIA Region 1 manager Geffrey Catulin said the agency is prioritizing the equitable distribution of available water resources across local irrigators’ associations amid expected shortages.

“Our focus now is on maximizing available water resources and ensuring that every farmer gets their fair share,” Catulin said in an interview. “We have coordinated closely with our Irrigators Associations to implement systematic water delivery schedules and rotational irrigation, especially prioritizing standing and high-value crops.”

The measures being rolled out include strict daily monitoring of reservoir and diversion inflows and outflows to optimize releases. The agency is also harmonizing cropping schedules through inter-agency coordination.

The NIA is promoting water-saving technologies such as Alternate Wetting and Drying and short-duration crop varieties to help reduce water demand while maintaining high yields.

Catulin assured farmers that contingency systems are ready if water levels drop further.

“We have contingency and backup mechanisms already in place,” he explained. “These include our groundwater and pump irrigation systems, solar-powered pumps, and preventive maintenance programs to ensure canals and structures remain functional.”

The agency has identified strategic deep wells and shallow tube wells for activation to supplement water delivery and is expanding the installation of solar-powered irrigation systems. Additionally, preventive maintenance and desilting work are underway to improve delivery efficiency and reduce water loss.