August 30th, 2025
House Special Committee on Food Security Chair and Albay 3rd District Representative Raymond Adrian Salceda is calling on the national government to fully fund and implement the 2020–2030 National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Irrigation Master Plan, saying it is the most direct way to achieve food self-sufficiency and reduce the country’s dependence on rice imports.
“Fully implementing even the parts that can still be done over the next five years should cut our rice imports by half. Irrigation is the most direct way to raise farm productivity and secure our food supply,” Salceda said.
The Food Security Chair highlighted the urgency of completing flagship irrigation works such as the Jalaur Dam project in Iloilo. “Yung Jalaur Dam, nasa ₱6 billion na lang po kailangan at tapos na ‘yun,” he said, stressing that decisive budget support would quickly unlock its benefits.
Salceda contrasted irrigation with flood control investments. “Ang flood control kasi, defensive infrastructure lang yan. Ang irrigation, flood mitigation din naman, pero nakakatulong din sa food security. Multipurpose kumbaga,” he explained.
He flagged the limits of current allocations. “Kaya lang, papasok sa ₱37 billion lang ang budget ng NIA ngayong 2026. Ako ang suggestion ko nyan, yung ibang flood control budget, sa irrigation ibigay,” Salceda said.
To supplement appropriations, Salceda proposed reviving Agri-Agra Bonds, which were last used in 2006. “Kung di, ito suggestion ko sa mahal na Pangulo, mag-issue ulit ng Agri-Agra Bonds kagaya ng ginawa noong 2006. Eksakto lalo mababa ang interest rates ngayon, pag-aagawan yan ng mga bangko,” he said.
He also urged mobilizing sovereign wealth resources. “Kakausapin din natin ang Maharlika Investment Corporation na mag-invest sa dams ng NIA. Yun kasi ang orihinal na misyon talaga ng Maharlika,” Salceda explained, pointing to Maharlika’s infrastructure mandate.
For small-scale systems, Salceda called for a community-driven approach. “Yung small irrigation projects, gawin nating bottom-up budgeting. Simulan natin sa komunidad. Para mawala ang agam-agam ng mga tao, na insertions lang yan o raket lang yan. Yung kailangang talaga ng tao,” he added.
The legislator said the Irrigation Master Plan integrates rehabilitation of existing systems, construction of new dams and canals, and modern financing schemes. “It is a blueprint that can change the country’s agricultural destiny. What we need is political will to finance it, and urgency to complete it by 2030,” Salceda stressed.
“The bottom line is this: irrigation is food security. Every hectare we irrigate is more rice, more vegetables, and more food on Filipino tables. If we complete the Master Plan, we cut imports, strengthen our farmers, and protect our people from food inflation,” he concluded.