ILOILO – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Region 6 has defended the construction of a canal project in Oton, Iloilo that recently went viral online for its seemingly narrow size, sparking public criticism and ridicule from netizens who called it “too small.”
The canal, officially known as “Lateral D-1,” is being built in barangays Botong and Sambaludan. In response to the backlash, NIA-6 clarified that the canal was designed specifically to meet the irrigation needs of approximately 75 hectares of rice fields located in the tail-end of the agency’s service area.
Engr. Randy Alipis, division manager of NIA-6’s Iloilo-Guimaras Irrigation Management Office, explained that the canal’s dimensions — 0.4 meters wide by 0.5 meters deep — were based on technical studies, field surveys, and design computations conducted by their engineering team.
“We don’t arbitrarily decide the size of a canal. The area to be irrigated dictates the canal design. For 75 hectares, a larger canal would be excessive and wasteful,” said Alipis. “Designing a one-meter by one-meter canal for such a small service area would be technically unjustifiable and economically inefficient.”
Alipis further pointed out that overspending on a small project would deprive other irrigation areas with more pressing needs.
“We balance our designs to save resources while meeting the water demands of our service areas. This way, we can allocate funds to more farmers in need,” he stressed.
He also clarified that there is no fixed standard size for NIA canals.
“It all depends on the land area that the canal is intended to serve. Smaller service areas require smaller canals. Our engineers compute these based on hydrological studies and irrigation needs,” Alipis explained.
On concerns regarding flooding or water overflow during heavy rains or typhoons, Alipis assured residents that such risks are mitigated by the agency’s gate control systems.
“We close the dam gates and main canals during heavy downpours to prevent flooding,” he said.
‘Give the Project a Chance’
Alipis urged farmers and residents to withhold judgment until the project is completed and tested. He emphasized that the Lateral D-1 canal remains under construction and that a dry run will be conducted before final acceptance.
He stressed that the contractor, F. Gurrea Construction, Inc., will not receive full payment unless the project passes inspection and is certified by the Irrigators’ Association (IA) presidents in the affected barangays.
“Let’s not rush to judgment. The project is ongoing, and we will test it before accepting it. If it doesn’t deliver, there will be no payment,” Alipis stated.
The total budget for the construction of Lateral D-1, including the main canal and other laterals (A, B, C, and D), is P46 million. The project began in September 2024 and is scheduled for completion in May 2025.
Transparency and Engagement Urged
Alipis said a pre-construction conference was held prior to the start of the project, with invitations extended to all stakeholders, including local government units, national government agencies, and the Irrigators’ Associations. However, he admitted that some farmers — particularly those who are not IA members—often miss these meetings and later raise concerns due to lack of information.
He encouraged all farmers, especially those not yet part of an IA, to become members so they can be informed and benefit from NIA assistance.
“To our farmers: these projects are studied and well-planned. After the test run, we will all see if water can reach your fields. I urge those who are not yet IA members to join so that everyone can understand the programs and benefit from them,” Alipis said, adding that his office is open to address any concerns about NIA’s ongoing irrigation projects./PN