Pampanga gets P144 million for irrigation projects

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- An official from the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) said Tuesday that some P144 million has been allocated to finance irrigation projects in Pampanga.

Reynaldo Puno, regional irrigation manager, said the funding came from the National Government under the administration of President Benigno Aquino III.

This is still part of the agricultural support in the form of irrigation projects by the government that aimed at achieving the objective of rice sufficiency program, Puno said.

Puno, in a recent meeting with Governor Lilia Pineda, elected officials and the Federation of Pampanga Irrigators Associations, assured farmers of continuous studies being undertaken by NIA to further improve the existing irrigation technology in the province.

Engineer Angelito Miguel, manager of the Pampanga Bataan Irrigation Management Office, also said that another P68.05 million has been set aside for the Porac-Gumain River Irrigation System.

As this developed, Pineda thanked Aquino for continuously providing the province of Pampanga a just share of the national revenue through various projects and programs benefiting Kapampangans in general.

Pineda particularly cited the recent P144-million budget allotted for irrigation projects in 2013.

Meanwhile, Pineda led the turnover of an all-purpose vehicle to the Federation of Pampanga Irrigators Associations.

She also distributed two units of hand tractors to the Provincial Irrigators Association that were purchased under the 85-15 percent scheme by the Department of the Agriculture and Provincial Government, respectively.