The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has assured the public of the structural integrity of its major dams, saying monitoring equipment has been installed to closely track the condition of structures that have been operating for more than five decades.

NIA Administrator Engr. Eddie Guillen said there were no immediate structural concerns involving the agency's major high dams, many of which are earth-filled structures that become more compact over time.

“Our dams are more than 50 years old. Lately, we installed equipment so we can monitor their integrity. It makes them even more secure,” Guillen said in an interview.

He cited the Pantabangan and Magat dams, saying both still had substantial room before reaching their respective full levels during the period discussed.

Pantabangan Dam needed more than 20 meters of additional water to reach its full level, while Magat Dam had more than 10 meters remaining before reaching capacity, according to Guillen.

“Do not worry about our high dams. They are strong,” he said.

Dams eyed for flood control, irrigation

Guillen said dams could play a bigger role in addressing flooding and water management, particularly through multipurpose projects that combine flood control with irrigation.

He said NIA is coordinating with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) under a convergence approach, where DPWH could fund and implement multipurpose infrastructure while NIA provides technical inputs and identifies potential sites.

Under the proposed arrangement, NIA would help ensure that projects could also support irrigation and food production.

Guillen said the government is considering diversion dams and similar structures that could slow water flow, reduce sedimentation and retain water for later use.

He cited a newly completed DPWH project in Claveria, Cagayan, as an example of how such structures can influence water flow.

“When you put something like that, it initially blocks the water and the velocity of the water really slows down because it drops,” Guillen said, adding that the structures could also help address sedimentation, which he described as a growing problem in the country's rivers.

He said such projects could form part of immediate and long-term flood-control measures, particularly in Central Luzon, where major river systems carry large volumes of water during periods of intense rainfall.

Pampanga River projects

Guillen also pointed to proposed projects involving the Pampanga River system, including the planned Sumacbao Dam in General Tinio and the proposed Talavera Dam.

The Sumacbao Dam is estimated to cost around P20 billion, while the Talavera project has an estimated cost of P6 billion, bringing the combined projected investment to about P26 billion.

Guillen said the Talavera project already has a detailed engineering study and could help manage water flowing toward the Pampanga River.

“The impact is significant because a large volume of water comes down to the Pampanga River,” he said.

He said the proposed dams would help hold back excess water before it reaches downstream areas, reducing the volume entering the Pampanga River during heavy rainfall.

Guillen cited Pantabangan Dam's operations during recent heavy rains as an example of how dams can help manage downstream flooding.

Despite the heavy rainfall, Pantabangan Dam did not release water during the period in question, allowing it to retain inflows, he said.

Guillen said the broader objective is not only to mitigate flooding but also to maximize stored water for irrigation and food production.

“Once we are able to hold the water there, a significant benefit will come to us because it will not simply cause flooding downstream. As the President said, we can put the water to good use,” he said.

NIA seeks higher 2027 budget

Meanwhile, Guillen said NIA proposed a P135-billion budget for 2027 but was initially allocated about P46 billion under the government's budget proposal.

He acknowledged that the proposed allocation is substantially lower than NIA's request but said the agency could seek additional funding for priority projects through Congress and the executive branch.

“We are still being helped by Congress and the Senate so that it can increase, and the President as well,” Guillen said.

He cited major irrigation and water-management projects such as Balog-Balog as examples of projects that could receive additional funding if prioritized by the government.

Guillen said the proposed NIA-DPWH convergence could also help address funding constraints by allowing infrastructure projects to serve multiple purposes rather than being designed solely around a single agency's mandate.

Under the arrangement, DPWH could provide funding and undertake construction, while NIA would help develop project plans and ensure that irrigation and water-management considerations are incorporated.

Guillen said expanding the country's network of major dams remains a long-term goal, noting that the Philippines has 18 major river basins that could potentially benefit from more comprehensive water-management infrastructure.

He said the effort is also aligned with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.'s push to accelerate the development of water infrastructure capable of supporting both flood mitigation and agricultural production.