Joselito Malig

Article (news)

Agatha Gregorio

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA - National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator Engineer Eddie Guillen has denied that the Maguing Communal Irrigation Project in Lanao del Sur is a &quot;ghost project&quot;. </p><p>NIA officials said photos posted by a former NIA employee showed project structures that sustained damage after heavy rains in 2023.</p><p>The structures have since been repaired, as seen in inspections done by Mindanao technical engineers, according to NIA Engineer Salome Layasan.</p><p>During a hearing at the Senate on NIA’s proposed 2026 budget, Layasan said, “The team composing of technical engineers from the Mindanao regions region 9, 11, 12, 13, and from the Central Office proceeded immediately to the Maguing Communal Irrigation Project… Nag-walk through kaagad kami papuntang dam. From there, sa dam, nakikita namin upstream of the dam may tubig and flowing towards the intake. ‘Yung intake papunta ng main canal in full capacity. So therefore, another thing, nakikita po namin na ‘yung physical structure ng dam ay in place. The components, the parts of the dam, andoon po. So the team concluded that the dam is operational po.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/14/reward-offered-for-leads-in-killing-of-former-nia-employee-1142"><strong>Reward offered for leads in killing of former NIA employee </strong></a></div><p>NIA also showed photos comparing those supposedly posted by former NIA employee Kyle Antatico and those taken on October 13, 2025.</p><p>“So itong nasa kaliwa pagkatapos ng kalamidad? Tama? Kaya ganyan ang itsura? Hindi naman dahil substandard ‘yun ano?” Sen. Francis Pangilinan asked during the hearing.</p><p>“Lalong hindi po ghost, Mr. Chair,” Guillen replied.</p><p>When asked if this was substandard, Guillen said, “Actually po, Mr. Chair, kung puwede lang, kasi ang sistema po namin sa NIA kapag nagva-validate po kami, hindi lang ‘yung project. Kinakausap po namin ‘yung tao, ‘yung mga irrigators association natin.” </p><p>Guillen also lamented how they are supposedly the only agency being pointed at in relation to Antatico’s death given how the former NIA employee allegedly criticized other government bodies as well, including the Senate and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).</p><p>Antatico’s death is being investigated, with senators mentioning the possibility of this being related to the former employee posting about alleged corruption in NIA.</p><p>“Isu-submit namin sa inyo ‘yung kanyang post. Ang dami kasi– lahat ng ahensiya, lahat ng agency… Senate, Congress, DPWH, DOH. Lahat po may puna po si Kyle. Kaya po nalulungkot kami at kami nga po ‘yung natuturo,” Guillen said.</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2025/10/14/marcos-says-effective-flood-control-projects-still-possible-under-his-admin-1234"><strong>Marcos says effective flood-control projects still possible under his admin </strong></a> </div><p>“‘Yung kanyang tinutukoy na mga projects ay projects ng previous administration. Sila ang nagpondo. Sila ang nagpa-bid… Bakit naman kami masasaktan? Kami naman po ay nag-imbestiga,” Guillen added. </p><p>This was met with a retort from Sen. Robin Padilla who said the killing happened under Guillen’s leadership.</p><p>“Napatay sa administrasyon mo eh. Huwag mo na ituro ‘yung dating administrasyon. Lumang tugtugin na ‘yan,” Padilla said.</p><p>NIA offered a P100,000 reward to those who could give information on the shooting incident involving Antatico.</p><p>NIA’s 2026 budget is at P46.17 billion under the National Expenditure Program (NEP). The agency’s budget was deemed submitted for consideration of the plenary on Thursday. </p><div> </div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XxX4jsw8iSU?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator Engineer Eddie Guillen has denied that the Maguing Communal Irrigation Project in Lanao del Sur is a "ghost project".</p>

National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator Engineer Eddie Guillen has denied that the Maguing Communal Irrigation Project in Lanao del Sur is a "ghost project".

NIA denies 'ghost project' in Lanao del Sur

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NIA denies 'ghost project' in Lanao del Sur

Agatha Gregorio,

ABS-CBN News

Published October 16, 2025 06:36 PM PHT

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Updated October 16, 2025 10:53 PM PHT

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