The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) released the first batch of excavation equipment to irrigators’ associations (IA) to accelerate local agricultural works.
Over P776 million worth of 141 excavators were given out during the first tranche of the Equipment Fleeting Program.
The Equipment Fleeting Program is a three-year process to improve maintenance works, repair, and better irrigation system.
The program has three tranches, which combined, amounted to P2.59 billion.
NIA distributes P776-M equipment for enhanced irrigation
Dec 15, 2023 04:22 AM
At a glance
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has turned over the first set of excavation equipment to irrigators’ associations (IA) to speed up and enhance local agricultural developments.
In a statement, the NIA, an attached agency of the Department of Agriculture, announced the distribution of 141 excavators worth P776 million during the turnover ceremony held in Olongapo City at the Subic Bay Freeport Zone.
The types of equipment, such as 102 units of 0.5 cubic excavators, 17 units of 1 cubic excavator, 17 units of long arm excavators, and five units of amphibious excavators.
The turn-over ceremony was joined by NIA Region I Acting Regional Manager Danilo Gomez, NIA Region VIII Regional Manager Jaime De Jesus, NIA Region XI Regional Manager Jimmy Apostol, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., Subic Bay Chairman Jonathan Tan, and other members of the private sector.
Eduardo Eddie Guillen, the DA-NIA Acting Administrator, highlighted food security as one of the target goals of fortified agricultural watering.
“These [machines] will be used by the IAs to desilt the local canals and repair irrigation to improve our food security,” he said.
According to the DA, the three-year Equipment Refleeting Program is not only focused on augmenting the country’s mechanical resources but also on the regular operation and maintenance of national irrigation systems (NIS).
“The program also aims to immediately repair and/or construct irrigation facilities damaged by natural disasters,” DA added.
The program, which has deployed one out of three tranches, has a budget of P2.59 billion.
The next batch will cost P782 million to provide 138 units of excavators of various models, 28 units of dump trucks, and 17 units of truck tractors with trailers.
The final phase of the program will have a budget of P1.03 billion to procure different types of heavy equipment.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. emphasized the need to accelerate the construction of these facilities to avoid issues with agricultural water supply, especially expecting the El Niño phenomenon by the first quarter of next year.
He added that effective irrigation systems can improve local production by 30 percent.
With the 141 units of NIA-procured machinery, 257 NIS, and 10,144 communal irrigation would boost the productivity and profitability of local farmers nationwide.
“[The Equipment Refleeting Program] reflects our continuing commitment to develop and utilize our land to the fullest—a commitment that we embrace and take very seriously,” Marcos said.
The President also hoped for unity in ensuring fertile and productive lands through the continuous distribution of water.
“Let us develop, modernize, and improve our agriculture sector so we can achieve a food-secure and prosperous future for all Filipinos,” he added.