THE National Irrigation Administration (NIA) inaugurated the P171.97-million newly rehabilitated Porac-Gumain River Irrigation System (RIS).

Located in the western part of Pampanga, it is one of the older national run-of-the-river irrigation systems in the country continuously providing irrigation service to the municipalities of Floridablanca, Guagua, Sta. Rita and Lubao.

“The rehabilitated Porac-Gumain RIS was funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency under the National Irrigation Sector Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (Nisrip). It will irrigate about 3,249.95 hectares of agricultural land, benefitting 4,045 farmers and their families,” NIA Administrator Ricardo Visaya said.

He added that NIA remains committed to its mandate of providing efficient, reliable, and sustainable irrigation service to the Filipino farmers.

In a video message, Cabinet Secretary Karlo Alexei Nograles acknowledged the significant contribution of Porac-Gumain RIS to the farmers and in the agricultural sector of our country in this time of pandemic.

“These rehabilitation works will truly pave the way for the increase in production of our farmers which in turn will improve their profitability and livelihood,” he added.

Also in his video message, Japanese ambassador Koshikawa Kazuhiko emphasized the strong relationship between the Philippines and Japan through improvements of irrigation systems.

“It is an honor to be in close cooperation with NIA, local government units, and most importantly the farmers part of the Irrigators Associations. The continuous success and achievement of NISRIP provide a gleaming testimony of the relationship between Japan and the Philippines. It shows us with diligence in working collectively for the gloss of farm sector, we can achieve our goals in spite of the pandemic,” he said. (PIA)