THE National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Cebu has acquired new heavy equipment from its central office as it aims to fast-track the maintenance and improvement of irrigation systems critical to farming communities in southern Cebu.
In a statement on Friday, June 13, 2025, the NIA regional office said the equipment was formally turned over during a ceremony at the Can-asujan Dam in Carcar City on Thursday, June 12.
Delivered to the NIA Bohol-Cebu-Siquijor Irrigation Management Office (BCSIMO), the fleet included a backhoe loader, a self-loading truck and two mini dump trucks.
The equipment is expected to significantly improve operations in areas like the Basak Communal Irrigation System and Monteverde Small Irrigation Project in Samboan town.
Maritez Soria, acting division manager of NIA-BCSIMO, said the equipment will speed up maintenance work, such as canal desilting and material hauling in remote areas.
“We thank the NIA Central Office for this timely support,” said Soria.
NIA 7 said the provision is part of a broader effort to strengthen field offices and support national goals on food security and agricultural productivity.
“These equipment will significantly enhance our ability to conduct canal desilting, hauling of materials and other maintenance activities, especially in remote areas where access and response time are critical,” she said.
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) 7, the agriculture, forestry and fishing (AFF) sector in Central Visayas recorded a 5.4 percent growth in 2024.
Despite the increase, the AFF accounted for the smallest share of the region’s total Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) at only five percent.
The services sector remained the dominant contributor with a 70.1 percent share, while industry followed at 24.9 percent.
Both industry and services saw stronger expansions, growing by 6.8 percent and 7.6 percent, respectively.
Central Visayas remains as the fastest-growing regional economy among 18 regions in the Philippines with a 7.3 percent GRDP growth rate in 2024, maintaining its position in 2023.
The region’s growth rate surpassed the national average of 5.7 percent. / CDF