By Joyce Ann L. Rocamora | Philippine News Agency
The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) on July 13 said P200 billion is needed annually for the next 10 years to fully cover the country’s unirrigated land.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) in January said there are still at least 1.2 million hectares of unirrigated land, which needs an investment of at least P1.2 trillion if the government is to meet its rice self-sufficiency goals.
“Iyong remaining unirrigated area natin, kailangan po natin ng 200 billion yearly for the next 10 years. Kung may 200 billion ang NIA maraming mapupuntahan iyan,” NIA Administrator Eduardo Guillen said at the Saturday News Forum in Quezon City.
The official said NIA is not expecting the full amount to be immediately granted but hoped the Department of Budget and Management would provide ample funds to help advance its programs.
“Hindi ko naman pinapangarap na ibigay nilang buo iyong 200 billion, dahil nga tumutulong naman na ang DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) ngayon para punuan itong ating kakulangan,” he said.
“So dapat iyong mga gagawin ng DPWH na mga flood control projects na may irrigation component, dapat bigyan ng DBM ng karampatang pondo sa NIA,” he added.
The official was referring to NIA’s convergence effort with the DPWH on the Sabo Dam project for flood control and irrigation.
A sabo dam controls sediment transportation, prevents riverbed aggradation and mitigates water-induced disasters.
“Anong silbi ng pinalagyan ng DPWH ng Sabo Dam kung wala namang irrigation canal. Kasi hindi na mandate ng DPWH iyan,” he explained.