Gov’t To Spend PHP1 Billion In 2025 For 3rd Tranche Of NIA’s Re-Fleeting Program

The Philippine government is set to allocate approximately PHP1 billion in 2025 for the third tranche of the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) "Three-Year Re-Fleeting Program," an initiative aimed at enhancing the agency's capacity as part of a broader effort to improve the agriculture sector and achieve food security across the country.

Joining President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr., who led the ceremony, were House Speaker Ferdinand Martin G. Romualdez, House Senior Deputy Speaker Aurelio Gonzales, Jr., Iloilo 1st District Representative Janet Garin, and DA Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. graced the ceremony. I Photo: National Irrigation Administration

“This investment in our irrigation infrastructure attests to our unwavering commitment in supporting the backbone of our economy — the agriculture sector,” emphasized President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Earlier, President Marcos turned over the second tranche of equipment under the program, marking a significant step in his administration’s commitment to making the country’s irrigation systems more functional and effective.

The second tranche includes 148 newly procured heavy equipment units, amounting to PHP782 million. In 2023, the first tranche, comprising 141 excavators valued at approximately PHP776 million, was distributed to 17 NIA regional offices.

President Marcos highlighted that the distribution of this equipment is not just about providing new machinery, but also about empowering NIA regional offices, irrigators' associations, and farmers to ensure the sustainability of the country’s irrigation systems.

The re-fleeting program aims to minimize water resource losses and promote more efficient irrigation practices, ultimately leading to increased agricultural productivity.

The President also noted that the re-fleeting program would enable the rapid repair and construction of irrigation facilities damaged by natural calamities such as typhoons Carina and Butchoy.

With the new machinery and equipment, NIA has been able to provide irrigation services to more than half of the country’s National Irrigation Systems (NISs) and Communal Irrigation Systems (CISs).

Currently, NIA oversees 257 NISs and 8,802 CISs nationwide.

“We will not stop finding solutions that work for our farmers. We remain steadfast in our efforts to employ sustainable technologies to meet our irrigation needs,” President Marcos underscored.