GEOGRAPHICAL BACKGROUND AND IRRIGATION DEVELOPMENT

The NIA Region 5, also known as Bicol Region, consists of six (6) provinces: Albay, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, and the island-provinces of Catanduanes and Masbate.

Geographically, Bicol Region itself has a total land area of 17,362 square kilometers, of which 13.80% are irrigable area. Per Irrigation development, the region has a total irrigable area of 239, 660 hectares which has a total service area of 139,654 hectares or around 58.27% irrigation development. Camarines Sur is the region's largest province in area, occupying 123,700 hectares total irrigable area with a total service area of 76,878 hectares or 62.15% irrigation development. Catanduanes is the smallest in area with only 3,770 hectares which 84.92% is developed. Below in tabulated form, is the breakdown.

NIA JURISDICTION

Four (4) Irrigation Management Offices (IMOs) are serving the mandate of the NIA in Region 5, these include Albay-Catanduanes IMO, Camarines Norte IMO, Camarines Sur IMO and Sorsogon-Masbate IMO; four Field offices namely, Cagaycay River Irrigation System (CRIS), Libmanan-Cabusao Pump Irrigation System (LCPIS), Rinconada Integrated Irrigation System (RIIS) and Tigman-Hinagyanan-Inarihan Rivers Irrigation System (THIRIS); and, the Regional Office located in Naga City, Camarines Sur.