The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has credited its Region 1 office with securing 210 land titles for irrigation projects and rights-of-way in the Ilocos Region since 2023.

The total covers properties in Ilocos Norte, Ilocos Sur, La Union and Pangasinan that are occupied by canals, facilities and right-of-way corridors of NIA-operated systems. The agency has been under internal directive in recent years to formalize government ownership of lands used for its projects, many of which historically operated on incomplete or outdated documentation.

A ceremonial turnover of titles from the regional office to the Central Office was also held to centralize custody of original land documents.

Land titling in irrigation projects has practical implications beyond internal compliance. Clear titles can help NIA defend project sites from private claims or encroachment and reduce the risk of court cases that may halt construction or rehabilitation. They also provide a legal basis for enforcing access along canals and easements when maintenance work is needed.

The process, however, depends on how right-of-way is negotiated on the ground. When private land is affected, agencies are required to pay compensation and properly document the transaction. When this is done clearly, landowners have records they can refer to, and the agency has firmer ground if disputes arise later.

For farmers relying on irrigation systems, the advantage of settled land issues is largely indirect but significant: systems are less likely to be disrupted by ownership conflicts, and expansion or upgrading of networks can proceed with fewer legal obstacles.

In regions like Ilocos, where new and existing projects cover thousands of hectares, unresolved land questions can translate into delayed water delivery, unfinished canals or stalled improvements.