NIA Grilled by Senate Over P186 Billion Budget Request

SENATORS on Thursday pressed the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) for its proposed P186.42-billion additional budget amid unfinished utilization of the agency’s budget under the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA). During a Senate Finance Committee hearing on the 2027 budget, Administrator Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen explained that under the latest National Expenditure Program, only P47.43-billion has been allocated to the NIA. “For NIA’s FY (fiscal year) 2027 budget proposal, the agency proposed a total of P233.85 billion, which is P169.49 billion or 260% higher than our P64.37 billion for FY 2026 GAA,” Mr. Guillen. “This reflects the substantial funding requirements to accelerate the irrigation development, rehabilitation, and modernization nationwide.” Senate Committee on Agriculture Chairperson Francis Pancratius “Kiko” N. Pangilinan, who led the finance panel briefing, however, rejected the proposal, saying the agency should have submitted a “more realistic” budget proposal. Senator Maria Imelda Josefa Remedios “Imee” R. Marcos also called the proposal impractical, adding that the agency has yet to utilize about P17 billion from its continuing appropriations. Mr. Guillen said the request for the P233.85-billion budget has been made to illustrate the actual needs of the farmers and request of the Regional Development Council. — Kaela Patricia B. Gabriel