The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) said many government-built pumping irrigation systems across the country have failed over time, largely due to high operating costs driven by diesel and electricity dependence.

In an interview on DZRH’s Special on Saturday, NIA Administrator Eduardo Guillen said a significant number of irrigation pumping stations previously installed along major river systems are no longer functional and are now being restored by the agency.

“Pero karamihan din po nag-fail. In fact, ang dami naming nire-restore hanggang ngayon,” Guillen said.

He explained that many of these systems were designed as diesel-powered pumping stations, which also rely heavily on electricity to operate—making them expensive and unsustainable for long-term use by farmers.

“Ang dahilan po, syempre diesel-driven yan. At pinapatakbo po yan ng kuryente. Eh kamahal po ng diesel, ano? At kamahal din ang kuryente,” he said.

Guillen noted that the rising cost of fuel and power has made it difficult for farmers’ associations and irrigators’ groups to maintain the systems, leading to widespread non-operational facilities in several irrigation service areas.

“So hindi kayang i-maintain ng ating mga farmers,” he added.

The NIA chief said the agency is currently prioritizing the rehabilitation and restoration of these failed systems as a more cost-efficient approach compared to building new large-scale irrigation infrastructure.

He added that the government is also exploring alternative technologies, including solar-powered irrigation systems, to reduce dependence on diesel and electricity and improve long-term sustainability.