WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

The Water Resources Development project will assist the Government of the Philippines in developing an appropriate policy and institutional framework to improve water resources planning, development and management; initiating an integrated and comprehensive approach to water shed management to sustain water sources; improving existing irrigation system efficiency, thereby increasing agricultural production, and alleviating rural poverty; improving irrigation services in the long term by accelerating management turnover of irrigation systems to water users and by increasing the National Irrigation Administration's (NIA's) institutional effectiveness; and improving the environment in irrigated areas. The five year project will include the following components: a) improved water resources planning and management - preparation of a national water resources plan, improvement of national data collection networks, establishment of a national water information network and strengthening of the National Water Resources Board (NWRB); b) improved watershed management - formulation of a national watershed management strategy and investment and institutional strengthening program, investments for improved management; and staff training/study watershed management tour; c) improvement and repair of National Irrigation System (NIS) - system improvement, repairs in major structures, strengthening of Masiway dam, and construction of sediment inclusion structures; d) institutional strengthening of NIA and Irrigators Associations (IAs) - staff training, consultancies, computers and incremental operating costs to facilitate progressive management; and e) environmental improvement - control of schistosomiasis, erosion control works; sediment monitoring, and establishment of an Environmental Unit within NIA and provision of training and consultancy to the unit.