Mindanaotoday.com | Antiporda: NIA to explore public partnership for irrigation projects
By: Shaun Alejandrae Uy
CAGAYAN DE ORO CITY – Finding ways to boost services for the agriculture sector, National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator Benny D. Antiporda said NIA is already exploring the possibilities of a “PPP” venture but unlike its known terminology, the NIA’s PPP will be Public-Public Partnership.
During the Federation of Irrigators Association, Inc. in Region 10’s 26th Annual General Assembly and the election of officers, August 4, here, Antiporda assured the members of the Region 10 Federation of Irrigators Association, Inc. that NIA will build better, stronger projects for farmers and emphasized that in the implementation of projects, the awarded project contractors shall always be closely monitored to assure farmers of the prompt completion functionality of irrigation projects.
“I rely on all of you as the only ones who can help our President Ferdinand “BongBong” Marcos for the future of our country. Please do not leave us. All that we do from now on – we will make sure that it will be strong, we will make sure that our grandchildren can still benefit from it in the future,” Antiporda said.
He also said his administration will look into the overall welfare of the workers to ensure the delivery of services to the people will not be hampered.
This means that when a local government allocates funding for irrigation system projects and its maintenance but with limited funds, the local government may request assistance and funding from the NIA, “Mag-joint venture naman tayo. Alagaan natin ito, huwag nating pabayaan ang mga magsasaka, ganoon po ang gagawin namin,” said Antiporda.
NIA is set to launch a hotline for complaints, aside from the already existing NIA social media pages with Antiporda encouraging all stakeholders to air out problems and any concern.
The Irrigators Association Congress is an avenue for farmers to voice out their problems, issues, and concerns in the agriculture sector. Among present are officials and workers of the NIA regional office in northern Mindanao, headed by acting Regional Manager Leonila E. Tenestrante and farmer-beneficiaries of NIA. (SAYU | PIA-10)
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