New Breath of Life: Newly Rehabilitated Padada RIS Main Dam Inaugurated by NIA Acting Administrator Guillen

NIA Administrator Engr. Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen led the ribbon cutting for the inauguration of the Newly Rehabilitated Padada RIS Main Dam together with the following, from left to right: Acting Mayor of Hagonoy Hon. Jesus Jay S. Dureza; Congressman Hon. John Tracy F. Cagas; Padada River Irrigation System Federation of Irrigators Association, Inc. President Alan M. Abillon; Regional Manager Jimmy L. Apostol; Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Ralph Lauren A. Du; and Division Manager of Davao Del Sur IMO Engr. Dexter F. Tinapay.

BJ C. Audiencia and April Pearl Q. Naguita Mar 8, 2023 

National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Acting Administrator Engr. Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen, together with NIA Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector Ralph Lauren A. Du led the inauguration of the newly rehabilitated Padada River Irrigation System (RIS) main dam on March 2, 2023 in Hagonoy, Davao Del Sur.

Padada River Irrigation System (RIS) Main Dam in Hagonoy, Davao del Sur

Rev. Fr. Jonnflor M. Mangrobang, DCD, of the San Isidro Labrador Parish Church of Hagonoy officiated the blessing rites of the newly rehabilitated dam and other facilities.

Interaction between Administrator Guillen, Regional Manager Jimmy L. Apostol, IA Federation President Alan M. Abillon and the LGUs.

The Padada River Irrigation System is one of the national irrigation systems (NIS) of Davao Del Sur Irrigation Management Office (IMO) and is the oldest dam of NIA in Davao Region. The system has a service area of 3,512 hectares spanning seven barangays and serving the Padada River Irrigation System Federation of Irrigators Association, Inc. which is composed of six Irrigators Association (IAs). Padada RIS has a total of 2,249 farmer-beneficiaries planting rice and banana.

Acting Administrator Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen and Hon. John Tracy F. Cagas switched on the mechanism for the ceremonial opening of the dam’s intake gates.

From left to right: NIA Deputy Administrator for Admin and Finance Ralph Lauren A. Du, NIA Davao del Sur IMO Division Manager Dexter F. Tinapay, Acting Administrator Eduardo Eddie G. Guillen, Regional Manager Jimmy L. Apostol, and Davao del Sur Congressman John Tracy F. Cagas discuss future developments of the dam.

Built in 1953 and operational by 1956, the dam has suffered wear and tear throughout its existence, and damages to its structure have also called for its rehabilitation in the previous years.

Between 2019 and 2020, extreme weather conditions and natural calamities had compromised the integrity of the main dam and other structures. Specifically, two magnitude 6.3 and 6.9 earthquakes occurred, and successive heavy downpour and flash floods, and decades of quarrying activities near the dam site took its toll on Padada RIS dam leaving it severely damaged and in critical state, potentially affecting the livelihood of farmers who are dependent on its irrigation waters.

After securing funds from the Central Office, the NIA Region XI through the Davao del Sur IMO undertook major repair and rehabilitation for the system with a total amount of Php 202,813,795.58 Million. Major works included foundation treatment, downstream apron extension, upstream section modification; and repair and rehabilitation of sluiceway/vertical wall, lattice walls (core walls and tie walls), downstream apron, damaged spillway at the right side, inclined walls, and ogee. Canalization was also included in the laterals. 

Before and After:

Padada RIS Before the rehabilitation.

Padada RIS after the rehabilitation

The Padada RIS before and after rehabilitation. It is one of the national irrigation systems of Davao del Sur and the oldest in the Region. It has a service area of 3,512 hectares planted with rice and banana, with 2,249 farmer-beneficiaries.

The repair and rehabilitation of the dam was completed on January 16, 2023 and as of today is fully operational and ready to serve the fullest it's farmer-beneficiaries. The dam is made even better as it is ready for automation, and more mitigating measures are set in place to ensure the integrity of its stability.