The National Water Resources Board (NWRB) announced Tuesday it has received the Integrated Water Resources Management Information System (IWRMIS) for the Pampanga River Basin Project from the Republic of Korea.

NWRB Officer-in-Charge Executive Director Atty. Ricky A. Arzadon emphasized that the project represents more than just a technological advancement, as it will provide a “real-time monitoring system for Pampanga River Basin.”

“This embodies our collective aspiration for a future where water governance is guided by accurate data, sound science, and a strong spirit of cooperation. Through this system, we are better equipped to manage, protect, and allocate our water resources efficiently and sustainably,” Arzadon said.

The project was completed in collaboration with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), reflecting the continued partnership between the Philippines and Korea in advancing water resource management through innovative technology and international cooperation.

“KOICA hopes that this project can be a national model in that journey, for every Filipino community that depends on water as the source of life, growth, and resilience,” KOICA Country Director Jung Youngsun said.

A key component of the project is the Water Resources Information Portal System (WRIPS), which features 67 sensors across 68 rivers in the Pampanga River Basin, monitoring rainfall, water levels, and flow discharges around the clock. The data streams into an online portal accessible to government agencies and the public.

The Pampanga River Basin, where the Angat Dam is located, supplies drinking water to millions in Metro Manila and irrigates the rice fields that form the agricultural backbone of Central Luzon. Managing competing demands among households, farms, and power plants has historically been a challenge. The new system aims to improve decision-making through science-based information.

Funded by KOICA and developed with Dongbu Engineering and K-Water, the project also included training for Filipino water professionals on system operation, data analysis, and river monitoring with drones.

Following its success in Pampanga, there are plans to expand the system to four more major river basins in Luzon by 2030—the Cagayan, Agno, Abra, and Abulog river basins—creating an interconnected water monitoring network.

The portal is already live and publicly accessible, allowing students, researchers, journalists, and citizens to view real-time water data that informs government decisions.

The handover ceremony on 6 November brought together key officials including Korea Minister and Consul General Sang Seung Man, KOICA Country Director Youngsun, Assistant Country Director Jawha Oh, Program Manager Hayoung Park, and consultants from Dongbu Engineering and K-Water led by Project Manager Dr. Deuk-Koo Koh.