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Friday, December 20, 2002
Enzo as agri sec eyed to boost NIA 10 funding
By Lizanilla J. Amarga
DESPITE the budget cuts, the regional office of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) 10 is still optimistic of undertaking several irrigation projects next year.
The agency is pinning its hopes on the appointment of Luisito Lorenzo as Agriculture Secretary saying it would really place them at an advantage when it comes to project allocations.
NIA-1O officer Engr. Avelino Andilap said there is a huge possibility that being a native of the region Lorenzo will help them net at least P1.9 billion in local irrigation projects.
"They are also friends with our NIA-10 regional director Jesus Paras so possibly nga ubay-ubay gyud ang ihatag nga (it is possible that he will give us a) bigger budget," he said.
"I hope he can help us in this as the people in our region really need these projects," he added.
Andilap's disclosure was made during the Philippine Information Agency's Kapihan at Burgos-Gomez street last week.
Since all NIAs are under the Department of Agriculture (DA) office, Andilap said all their budgets for local irrigation would pass through Lorenzo's hands.
He said there are billions worth of irrigation projects that are still being "held pending" for lack of funds.
Andilap said these projects would have made the lives of farmers's all over region 10 easier and better.
"At the same time proper irrigation will facilitate greater productivity in their lands which is tantamount to more food for the country and lesser need for importation," he said.
There are three top programs in the NIA-10 list of priority irrigation projects that had yet to be allocated any funding by past Agriculture Secretary Montemayor.
This includes an irrigation project at Talakag, Bukidnon, another in the town of Balingasag, Misamis Oriental province and Kadingilan, Bukidnon.
Andilap said the Talakag irrigation project that will help water 2,500 hectares of land would cost P250 million. It is estimated to serve more than a hundred farmers and their dependent families.
On the other hand the Balingasag, Misamis Oriental irrigation project is estimated to cost P450 million.
Andilap said work had already begun on the irrigation project in this area but the government ran out of funds so it was stopped. It was projected to help water around 2,500 hectares of land.
Meantime the Kadingilan, Bukidnon project is one of the largest irrigation programs that is seen to benefit more than a thousand families.
The project would make 6,000 hectares of land more conducive for farming but would cost P1.2 billion.
(December 19, 2002 issue)
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