In the budget deliberations for the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) for 2026, Senator Raffy Tulfo confronted the agency over what he described as alleged substandard work in one of its major irrigation projects. 

The senator presented a video taken by his staff in September 2025, showing visible cracks and leaks at the Bulo Small Reservoir Irrigation Project (Bulo SRIP) located in San Jose, Balog-balog, San Jose, Tarlac.

The Bulo SRIP was declared completed by NIA in 2022. However, the agency claimed that the project sustained heavy damage during Typhoon Carding later that same year. NIA said the contractor had already repaired the typhoon-related damages.

Tulfo disputed this, stating that based on his staff’s recent inspection, no rectification work had been made, contradicting NIA’s assertion.

“Why is it that the project gets destroyed by just a single typhoon? What kind of materials were used — substandard ba? O super mega substandard?” Tulfo said. “Ganun ba ang lahat ng proyekto ng NIA? Konting bagyo lang, nagigiba?”

NIA maintained its position, insisting that the project met all required standards and had even been accepted by its beneficiaries. The agency also defended itself by stressing that Typhoon Karding was a Category 4 storm—strong enough to cause significant structural damage.

Still, Tulfo argued that this reasoning was insufficient.

“Alam naman ng NIA na lahat ng probinsya na nilalagyan nila ng irrigation project ay dinadaanan ng bagyo. Isn’t it about time to set a higher standard — one that can withstand even a signal no. 4 typhoon?” he asked. “All year round, binabagyo tayo, and all year round nasisira ang mga irrigation projects. Why?”

Tulfo further criticized the alleged superficial repairs done to the structure after the typhoon.

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“Ang nangyari diyan, pininturahan at nilagyan ng palitada — konting kiskis para maging malinis. Ganun ang ginawa ng NIA,” he said.

In response, NIA denied the claim, saying the repairs were not merely cosmetic.

“According to NIA, it is not just palitada; there was actually a steel casement,” Sen, Kiko Pangilinan stated.

The exchange culminated in a bold challenge from Tulfo as he proposed that NIA officials accompany him and his staff back to the project site. If he proves that the agency provided false information and failed to conduct repairs, he insisted that someone from NIA must resign. 

NIA officials agreed to the senator’s challenge.

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