Senator Raffy Tulfo blasted anew the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) for collecting ₱261 million yearly for repair and maintenance costs of unfinished and non-operational Balog Balog Dam project Phase 2 in San Jose, Tarlac.
During the hearing of the Senate Finance Committee for the proposed budget of NIA for 2025, Tulfo asked the agency why they requested such a budget again when there is nothing to maintain and operate.
The legislator presented before the committee a series of photos personally taken by his staff on Nov. 7, 2024 showing the unfinished and inactive project that was obviously neglected by NIA.
Senator Imee Marcos, the one defending the budget of NIA, explained that NIA claimed that the fund is being used for maintenance of Balog Balog Phase 1, which Tulfo found to be false as the previous year’s budget clearly stated Phase II.
“Bakit gagastusin niyo para sa Phase 1 ang budget na allocated para sa Phase 2?”
“Bakit gagastusin niyo para sa Phase 1 ang budget na allocated para sa Phase 2? Hindi po katanggap-tanggap para sa akin iyan!” he said.
This prompted NIA to retract its claim, saying that the ₱261 million remains unspent and will be carried over for the upcoming years, once the National Economic and Development Authority Investment Coordination Committee (NEDA-ICC) approves the extension of the deadline of the project to 2028 despite it being started more than 50 years ago.
NIA eventually promised the lawmaker that they will not anymore request a budget for repair and maintenance costs of Balog Balog Dam project Phase 2 in 2025.
Notably, the NIA Board accepted the request for the Endorsement to the NEDA-ICC regarding the Request for Extension of Project Implementation, Change in Scope and Increase in Cost – which also surprised the senator.
The new proposal indicates the extension of project implementation from 2013-2027 to 2013-2028 with an increase in cost from ₱14.50 billion to a whopping to ₱18.8 billion.
“What assurance they can give the public that the project will be completed in 2028?”
Due to the proposed budget increase, the senator again questioned NIA what assurance they can give the public that the project will be completed in 2028, considering that project construction in the area remains pending and the right-of-way issues being unresolved as proven by the visit of his staff there. NIA insisted that they are merely waiting for the project approval from NEDA-ICC.
NIA even shared that the overall accomplishment of said project as of December 31, 2023 is 50.02% based on the revised total project cost, which is contrary to the photos and videos of Balog Balog taken by the senator’s staff.
Furthermore, he asked NIA for a project plan or feasibility study, but they failed to present one. Instead, the agency promised to him that they will furnish his Office a copy of said document, which earned the ire of Tulfo.
He said NIA should have come prepared knowing that their budget is being deliberated.
Tulfo also promised that he will keep on pounding the agency until it’s cleansed from its corrupt officials and personnel.
