The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) is a government-owned and controlled corporation primarily responsible for irrigation development and management. It was created under Republic Act (RA) 3601 on 22 June 1963. Its charter was amended by Presidential Decree (PD) 552 on 11 September 1975 and PD 1702 on 17 July 1980. Both increase the capitalization and broadened the authority of the Agency.
NIA's forerunner was the Irrigation Division of the defunct Bureau of Public Works. NIA was placed under the Office of the President (OP) upon its creation. It was attached to the Department of Public Works, Transportation, and Communication under PD No.1, dated 23 September 1972. The issuance also integrated all irrigation activities under the Agency. The Administrative Code of 1987, dated 25 July 1987, attached NIA to both the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and Department of Agriculture (DA). But NIA remained attached to DPWH. It was transferred to OP pursuant to Executive Order No. 22, dated 14 September 1992. Then, it was attached to DA under Administrative Order No. 17 dated 14 October 1992.
• Executive Order No. 165 (5 May 2014): This EO transferred several agencies, including NIA, the National Food Authority, Philippine Coconut Authority, and Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority, to the Office of the President. This reorganization aimed to streamline coordination and improve food security programs under the supervision of the President.
• Memorandum Order No. 70 (5 May 2014): This memorandum outlined the functions of the newly created Presidential Assistant for Food Security and Agricultural Modernization, who was tasked with overseeing NIA and other agencies related to food security.
• Memorandum from the Executive Secretary (3 November 2016): This memorandum designated the Secretary of the Office of the Cabinet Secretary as the Acting Chairperson of the NIA Board of Directors to ensure continued leadership and direction within the Agency.
In 2022, through Executive Order No. 168, NIA was transferred back to the Department of Agriculture, aligning its operations with broader agricultural initiatives to strengthen irrigation and food production efforts.
Most recently, in 2024, under Executive Order No. 69, NIA was transferred back to the Office of the President, reinforcing its critical role in national food security and irrigation development directly under the President's office.