Creattura Co., Ltd. and the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the regularization of Alternate Wetting and Drying (AWD)-based (*1) carbon credit projects in five National Irrigation Systems (NIS) across Pangasinan and Cagayan. The signing ceremony was held at the NIA Central Office in Quezon City.  

The MoU covers four irrigation systems in Pangasinan (*2) and one irrigation system in Cagayan, supporting climate-resilient rice production, sustainable irrigation management, and greenhouse gas emission reductions through the adoption of AWD practices. The agreement marks an important milestone as the first agreement under NIA’s newly issued framework to regularize ongoing AWD-based carbon credit projects for evaluation toward expansion and eventual project registration. Covering approximately 20,000 farmers and building on more than 3 years of AWD project development in the Philippines, the partnership establishes a formal pathway for NIA and Creattura to evaluate project performance, scale implementation, and advance registration in alignment with government guidelines and sustainable irrigation management objectives.

During the signing, Creattura CEO Mr. Tomomichi Hattori highlighted the initiative’s potential to benefit farmers and strengthen cooperation between the Philippines and Japan on climate-resilient agriculture. NIA Administrator Engr. Eddie G. Guillen emphasized that the project should create lasting and tangible value for irrigators’ associations and local farming communities. Together with NIA and local stakeholders, Creattura will work to scale climate-resilient rice farming practices that support food security, sustainable water management, and measurable emission reductions.  

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*1 AWD is a water management practice that allows rice fields to undergo controlled periods of drying and re-irrigation. In addition to supporting efficient water use, AWD has been recognized for its potential to reduce methane emissions from rice cultivation when implemented under appropriate conditions. This creates opportunities to contribute to climate change mitigation while supporting agricultural productivity.

*2 https://creattura.com/en/news/0305

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