DBM Press Release
NIA eyes 11,153 hectares of new irrigated areas as completed projects lower funding requirement; government shifts resources toward expansion, farm productivity
More farms are set to gain access to irrigation in 2027 as the Marcos Administration targets an almost 30-percent expansion in new irrigation service areas nationwide—despite a leaner overall funding requirement following the completion of existing projects.
Under the proposed FY 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP), P30.44 billion is allocated for the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) Irrigation Services Program, which targets the development of 11,153 hectares of new irrigation service areas across the country.
The 2027 target is 29.4 percent higher than the 8,620 hectares targeted under the FY 2026 NEP, translating to 2,533 additional hectares of new irrigation service areas.
The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) stressed that the lower proposed funding requirement does not mean less support for irrigation. Rather, the decrease largely reflects irrigation projects expected to be completed by the end of 2026, allowing government resources to be directed toward new and continuing priorities.
The proposed P30.44-billion funding for Irrigation Services is 4.85 percent lower than the P31.99 billion provided under the FY 2026 NEP.
Beyond increasing agricultural productivity, DBM emphasized that investments in irrigation are also part of the government’s efforts to strengthen farmers’ resilience against climate-related risks, including the possible effects of El Niño.
“The interventions continue, so that’s on the farmer’s side, not only on the fertilizer, but even their possible fuel consumption, or even looking at support, possible support for forms of irrigation.” DBM Acting Secretary Kim Robert C. De Leon said during the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) briefing at the Senate on August 27, 2026.
De Leon added that the government is looking at different irrigation projects, including the exploration of solar irrigation for NIA, as part of continuing efforts to strengthen support for the agriculture sector.
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., in his Budget Message, likewise underscored the government’s commitment to strengthening irrigation infrastructure as a means of improving both agricultural productivity and farmers’ livelihoods.
“The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) will strengthen irrigation systems that improve agricultural productivity and support the livelihood of our farmers throughout the country,” the President said.
Under the proposed budget, NIA aims to irrigate 1.65 million hectares under National Irrigation Systems and 1.06 million hectares under Communal Irrigation Systems during all cropping seasons.
The proposed investment in irrigation forms part of the government’s broader food security agenda under the FY 2027 NEP, which provides substantial support for agriculture, farmers and fisherfolk, agrarian reform, food production, and other interventions designed to increase farm productivity and strengthen the country’s food supply.
For DBM, the direction is clear: the measure of irrigation spending is not simply how much government allocates, but how much more productive farmland it can reach and how many more farmers it can support.
[END]
DBM PRESS RELEASE
23 September 2026
MAS MARAMING SAKAHAN, MABIBIGYAN NG IRIGASYON SA 2027: P30.44-B BUDGET, TARGET ANG HALOS 30% NA EXPANSION SA NEW SERVICE AREAS
NIA, tinitingnan ang 11,153 hectares ng bagong irrigated areas kasabay ng lower funding requirement dahil sa mga makukumpletong proyekto; mas maraming resources ilalaan para sa expansion, farm productivity
Mas maraming sakahan sa buong bansa ang inaasahang magkakaroon ng access sa irigasyon sa 2027 nang palawakin ng Marcos Administration sa halos 30 percent ang mga bagong irrigation service areas—sa kabila ng mas mababang overall funding requirement dahil sa ilang makukumpletong proyekto ngayong taon.
Sa ilalim ng proposed FY 2027 National Expenditure Program (NEP), P30.44 billion ang inilaan para sa Irrigation Services Program ng National Irrigation Administration (NIA), na target makapag-develop ng 11,153 hectares ng new irrigation service areas sa buong bansa.
Mas mataas ang 2027 target ng 29.4 percent kaysa sa 8,630 hectares na target sa ilalim ng FY 2026 NEP, na katumbas ng karagdagang 2,533 hectares ng bagong irrigation service areas.
Binigyang-diin ng Department of Budget and Management (DBM) na ang mas mababang proposed funding requirement ay hindi nangangahulugang nabawasan ang suporta ng pamahalaan para sa irigasyon. Sa halip, ang pagbaba ay dahil sa mga irrigation projects na inaasahang makukumpleto bago matapos ang 2026, kaya mas maraming government resources ang maaaring ituon sa bago at nagpapatuloy na priorities.
Ang proposed P30.44-billion funding para sa Irrigation Services ay 4.85 percent na mas mababa kumpara sa P31.99 billion na inilaan sa ilalim ng FY 2026 NEP.
Bukod sa pagpapataas ng agricultural productivity, binigyang-diin din ng DBM na mahalaga ang investments sa irrigation para mapalakas ang kakayahan ng mga magsasaka na harapin ang climate-related risks, kabilang ang posibleng epekto ng El Niño.
_“The interventions continue, so that’s on the farmer’s side, not only on the fertilizer, but even their possible fuel consumption, or even looking at support, possible support for forms of irrigation,”_ pahayag ni DBM Acting Secretary Kim Robert C. De Leon sa Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) briefing sa Senado noong August 27, 2026.
Dagdag pa ni De Leon, tinitingnan din ng pamahalaan ang iba’t ibang irrigation projects, kabilang ang pag-explore ng solar irrigation para sa NIA, bilang bahagi ng patuloy na pagpapalakas ng suporta sa agriculture sector.
Ipinahayag din ni Pangulong Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. sa kanyang Budget Message ang commitment ng pamahalaan na palakasin ang irrigation infrastructure upang mapataas ang agricultural productivity at mapabuti ang kabuhayan ng mga magsasaka.
_“The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) will strengthen irrigation systems that improve agricultural productivity and support the livelihood of our farmers throughout the country,”_ aniya.
Sa ilalim ng proposed budget, target ng NIA na mabigyan ng access sa irigasyon ang 1.65 million hectares ng sakahan sa ilalim ng National Irrigation Systems at 1.06 million hectares sa ilalim ng Communal Irrigation Systems sa lahat ng cropping seasons.
Bahagi ang proposed investment sa irigasyon ng mas malawak na food security agenda ng pamahalaan sa ilalim ng FY 2027 NEP, na magbibigay ng malaking suporta para sa agriculture, farmers and fisherfolk, agrarian reform, food production, at iba pang interventions para mapataas ang farm productivity at mapalakas ang food supply ng bansa.
Para sa DBM, malinaw ang direksyon: hindi lamang sa laki ng pondong inilaan nasusukat ang investment sa irigasyon, kundi sa lawak ng productive farmland na maaabot nito at sa dami ng mga magsasakang masusuportahan.
[END]
