President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. leads the turnover of 148 newly procured heavy equipment worth P 782 Million for the Regional Offices of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in a ceremony at Global Construct City in Mexico , Pampanga on Wednesday ( 7 August 2024.)

Joining the President are Department of Agriculture Sec. Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., NIA Administrator Eduardo Guilleb, House Speaker Martin Romualdez, Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales Jr., Pampanga Governor Dennis Pineda, Vice Governor Lilia Pineda, Mexico Mayor Ruding Gonzales and other officials.

𝗣𝗕𝗕𝗠: 𝗚𝗼𝘃’𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗣𝟭-𝗕 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗜𝗔 𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗽𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝘆 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱
During the ceremonial turnover, PBBM announced that government will roll out around PHP1 billion worth of new heavy equipment for the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) by 2025.

The acquisition of new excavators, trailer trucks, and dumpers worth PHP782 million is the second tranche of the NIA’s 3-Year Refleeting Program, which is instrumental for the agency to achieve its goal of fast-tracking irrigation development.

“By 2025, we will roll out the third tranche of equipment, amounting to around PHP1 billion,” Marcos said.

“This investment in our irrigation infrastructure attests to our unwavering commitment to supporting the backbone of our economy — the agriculture sector,” he added.

The newly procured excavators, trailer trucks, and dumpers will be used by NIA regional offices and project management offices nationwide in the operation and maintenance of irrigation systems, especially in canal desilting operations in preparation for wet crop season.

NIA currently has around 257 national and 8,802 communal irrigation systems.

Marcos said the NIA’s refleeting program is vital in repairing and and building more irrigation facilities that were damaged by natural calamities.

“It is more important now as many parts of the country are still recovering from the onslaught of Typhoon(s) Carina and Butchoy,” he said, hoping that the program could help make the irrigation facilities withstand the challenges of shifting climate change.

Marcos vowed to continue finding solutions that work for Filipino farmers, stressing that his administration remains steadfast in employing sustainable technologies to meet the country’s irrigation needs.

He added that the new machinery units are part of the NIA’s efforts to ensure food security.

“With these [machinery] and with these equipment to optimize our irrigation systems, the NIA has provided services to more than half of our National Irrigation Systems and Communal Irrigation Systems,” Marcos said.

“In areas where dam construction is not feasible or where there is a need to pump water to irrigate farmlands, the NIA has provided renewable energy-driven irrigation systems,” he added.

As the lead agency for irrigation, NIA implements the development, construction, operation, and maintenance of canals and major irrigation structures. (PNA)

Photos: PNA | Contributed