LETT iia RELEASED 29 APR 2015 ‘Republic of the Philippines Office of the President National Inrigation Adoni (PAMBANSANG PANGASIWAAN NG PATUBIG) ‘Quezon City fie Adress: Nalonal Goverment Conte EDSA, Diiman, Quezon Ciy, Philpines Telephone Noe: (02) 929-6071 to 78 “Teletax No. (622) 928-9343 Website wo nia.gov.ph TIN p0-916-415, MC No. 23 _s, 2015 To : THE SENIOR DEPUTY ADMINISTRATOR, DEPUTY ADMINISTRATORS, REGIONAL/DEPARTMENT/PROJECT MANAGERS, DIVISION MANAGERS AND ALL OTHERS CONCERNED SUBJECT: CLARIFICATION ON THE DEFINITION OF IRRIGABLE LAND/AREA FOR PURPOSES OF ISSUING CERTIFICATION OF NO IRRIGATION COVERAGE IN APPLICATIONS FOR EXEMPTION OF LANDS Pursuant to NIA Board Resolution No. 8158-15, Series of 2015 and for purposes of clarifying the definition of irrigable landiarea related to the processing of Applications for Exemption of Lands from the coverage of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP) pursuant to Department of Justice (DOJ) Opinion Nos. 44, Series of 1990 and 43, Series of 2011, as well as Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR) Administrative Order No. 04, Series of 2003, and in accordance with Department of Agriculture (DA) Administrative ‘Order No. 25 Series 2012, the following guidelines must be observed: Irrigable Land/Area is defined as land suitable for the conduct of agricultural activities which require irrigation and display physical features justifying the operation of an irrigation system. ‘The elements of an Irrigable Land are the following: 1. The land must have physical features, which show an inherent potential for the development of an irrigation system, such as: soil depth, soil texture, field terrain, slope, and other relevant characteristics; 2. The land must have potential for a quality water supply which can be sourced through a distribution system; 3. The land must be part of a serviceable area which is within an actual and funded irrigation system or which can be serviced with existing and operating irrigation facilities; 4. The land must be within an area where the approved or adopted Land Use Plan (LUP) by the concerned LGU for surrounding or contiguous landholdings which encourages or agrees to the conduct of agricultural activities; and 65. The land must have affected qualified farmer-beneficiaries or tenants/lessees willing to till the land and raise crops therein. Landholdings which possess any of the aforesaid elements are considered inrigable. Henceforth, all requests for certification of no irrigation coverage shall be subject to the approval of the Administrator, after favorable recommendation by the Regional Irrigation Manager of the area which has jurisdiction over the subject landholding or the Department Manager of UPRIIS/MARIIS as the case may be. All issuances of certification of no irrigation coverage shall be guided by the foregoing clarifications. Engr. FLORENCIO F. PADERNAL, DPA ‘Administrator For strict compliance. oil a 2015 teOg NATIONAL IRRIGATION ADMINISTRATION BOARD OF DIRECTORS RESOLUTION SUBJECT: NIA MC on the Clarification on the Definition of Irigable Land/Area for Purposes of Issuing Certification of No Irrigation Coverage in Applications for Exemption of Lands. RESOLUTION NO. 8158-15 SERIES OF 2015 RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved, on motion duly seconded, to approve the Memorandum Circular on the Clarification on the Definition of Irrigable Land/Area for Purposes of Issuing Certification of No Irigation Coverage in Applications for Exemption of lands subject to the following amendments: 1. Delete the phrase “Likewise, such lands, for purposes of processing its application for exemption from coverage in the CARP, shall be classified as unirrigable lands provided that irrigability in the area can no longer be achieved due to natural causes and/or as a result of urbanization and massive development in the contiguous or surrounding areas” in page 2 thereof; and, 2. Designate the NIA Administrator as the authorized approving official in the issuance of certificate of no inrigation coverage. Date Adopted: |, the undersigned, hereby certify that the foregoing is a ‘rue copy of the Resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. of the National Irrigation Administration and as read in the April 21, 2015 | Minutes of a duly constituted meeting of said Board held on April 21, 2015, 903" Regular Lbnnacan Board Meeting GENEVER M. DIONIO ‘Acting Corporate Board Secretary