The Magat River Integrated Irrigation System (MARIIS)

Head Office
Total project cost is 3.4B pesos (yr. 1975). The irrigation facilities, including the reservoir, the
intake gates to the hydroelectric plant, and the dam itself, is owned and managed by the
National Irrigation Administration (NIA) while the hydroelectric plant was owned by the
National Power Corporation (Napocor). Under the Electric Power Industry Reforms Act of 2001
(Republic Act No. 9136), the Magat Dam hydroelectric plant underwent a privatization process.
As a result, the plant's ownership and operation was turned over to SN Aboitiz Power Inc.
(SNAP), a joint venture of a local company, Aboitiz Equity Venture (AEV), and the Norwegian
SN Power Invest (SN Power) in April 2007
At the time of its construction in the 1950’s, the Magat River Irrigation System Dam in Ramon,
Isabela is the primary source of irrigation water in the province. It irrigates around 50,000
hectares of rice land.
During the Magat River Multi-Purpose project, MARIS Dam was rehabilitated and became part
of the Magat River Integrated Irrigation System.
Currently it delivers irrigation water to the Maris Main Canal and North Diversion Canal which
serve 68,686 hectares of rice lands within the municipalities of Ramon, Santiago, San Isidro,
Cordon, Angadanan, Alicia, Echague, Cabatuan, San Mateo, Luna, Cauayan, Reina Mercedes,
Naguillian, Aurora, San Manuel, Roxas, Quirino, Burgos, and Gamu in Isabela Province and the
municipality of Alfonso Lista in Ifugao Province
Constructed in the 1980’s as part of the Magat River Multipurpose
Project, the Baligatan Dam delivers water to the South High Canal
and Oscariz Canal which serve high level areas in the system.

To date, it provides irrigation water to 9,386 hectares of rice lands

located within the municipalities of Ramon, Cordon, and Santiago
City in Isabela Province and the municipalities of Diffun,
Cabbaroguis and Saguday in Quirino Province.
The main feature of the Siffu River Irrigation System (SIFRIS), the
Siffu Dam is a run-off-the-river type dam constructed along the
Siffu River in Roxas, Isabela in the 1960’s .

Through the Siffu Dam, SIFRIS serves 5,905 hectares of ricelands

in the municipalities of Roxas and Gamu in the province of Isabela.
The 360 MW MAGAT Hydro - Electric
Plant in Ramon, Isabela

Constructed in the 1980s under the Magat River Multi-Purpose Project, the Magat Hydro
Electric Power Plant is one of the top hydro electric power plants in the country.
Water from the Magat Reservoir is released through the four penstocks going to the
MHEPP at 120 cms each. Through large turbines, this is used to generate electricity of up
to 360 MW. Water is then released and held at the Maris Dam for irrigation use.
The 6 MW Baligatan Hydro - Electric Plant in Ramon, Isabela

Through a spherical valve under the Baligatan Dam, water passes to the
Baligatan Power Plant and then discharges to the Baligatan Creek.

This water is then diverted at the Baligatan Diversion Dam to irrigate the
9,025 hectares of service area along the South High Canal and 2,681 hectares
of service area of the Oscariz Main Canal.
The MARIIS Pumping Station I in Angadanan, Isabela

Facility Features:
•Number of Pump Units 3
•Pump Capacity: 69 cu. m./min
•Length: 661 Hectares
•Expected Rice Production: 5,844
MT/a

Purposes ;To irrigate rice lands even at high elevation, pumping stations were
constructed in the MARIIS Service area.
Pumping Station I is located in Angadanan, Isabela under MARIIS-Division IV. It
provides irrigation to 661 hectares of rice lands within the municipality.
The MARIIS Pumping Station II in Burgos, Isabela

Facility Features:
•Number of Pump Units 5
•Pump Capacity: 199 cu.
m./min
•Length: 2,704 Hectares
•Expected Rice
Production: 23,904 MT/a

Pumping Station II is located in Burgos, Isabela under MARIIS-Division

III. It provides irrigation to 2,704 hectares of rice lands within the
municipality.
The MARIIS Pumping Station III in Gamu, Isabela

Facility Features:
•Number of Pump Units 5
•Pump Capacity: 88.8 cu. m./min
•Length: 2,885 Hectares
•Expected Rice
Production: 25,504 MT/a

Pumping Station III is located in Gamu, Isabela under MARIIS-Division III. It

provides irrigation to 2,885 hectares of rice lands within the municipality.
JICA funded mini-hydro power plant switched-on in Isabela
•Posted By NIA-MARIIS

•on November 7, 2014

•Under News and Updates

NIA Administrator Florencio Padernal, DOE Undersecretary Zenaida Monsada, and JICA
Representative Eigo Azukizawa during the switching-on of the 45kw mini-hydropower facility
in San Mateo, Isabela. The event was witnessed by all the NIA regional irrigation managers (in
green hard hats).
SAN MATEO, Isabela — A 45-kilowatt mini-hydro power plant along an irrigation canal here
was switched on November 4, 2014. Funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency,
the hydro-power facility is constructed along the Lateral B of the Maris Main Canal of the
National Irrigation Administration-Magat River Integrated Irrigation System here.
Department of Energy Under Secretary Zenaida Y. Monsada, NIA Administrator Florencio F.
Padernal, and JICA Senior Representative of the Economic Growth Section Eigo Azukizawa led
the switching on ceremony of the demonstration project.
 Latest Update from MARIIS Management.

Engr. Mariano G. Dancel, the 8th Operations Manager of the Magat River
Integrated Irrigation System has retired from government service effective
January 10, 2015.On January 8, 2015, MARIIS employees staged a
celebration dubbed “Salamat, Mabuhay! Engr. Mariano G. Dancel: A Salute
to 42 Years of Dedicated Service and Commitment to Excellence.”

Engr. Dancel joined MARIIS in 1973 as Civil Engineer Aide II, rose from the ranks
and became Irrigation Superintendent III at the helm of the MARIIS-Division IV
from 1997-2004.
MARIIS welcomes new chief
Posted By NIA-MARIIS

on January 28, 2015

Under News and Updates

Cauayan City, Isabela – The Magat River Integrated Irrigation System

welcomes a familiar face as its new operations manager.
After a thorough screening process, Engr. Wilfredo C. Gloria of the
Engineering and Operations Division was chosen as the Acting
Operations Manager of MARIIS in a memorandum dated January 27,
2015.