The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) on Sunday said Congress added P40 billion to the agency’s 2024 budget which has the potential to irrigate also an additional 57,000 hectares of rice land and produce 570,000 metric tons more palay each year.
Eduardo Guillen, NIA administrator, calculated that at P19 per kilo, the realigned funds can generate palay sales of P10.83-billion a year and pay back the investment in four years or less.
Guillen said the realignment is a “wise investment on Philippine agriculture” as it benefits not only rice farmers but also consumers since the issues of food security, palay production and irrigation are connected.
“This significant sum of P40 billion will also play a crucial role in addressing both climate change and sustainability concerns. Solar-powered water pumps for irrigation systems will revolutionize the nation’s irrigation cover, reaching previously inaccessible areas while mitigating the impending effects of climate patterns like El Niño,” he said.
He noted the realigned budget focuses on agricultural productivity which is among the government’s top priorities.
“Ensuring long-term food security is a paramount objective for NIA. To address the growing demand for food in our country, it is imperative to accelerate the development of new irrigation areas. Our strategic approach involves the establishment of multi-purpose dams, small reservoirs, small-scale irrigation systems and the promotion of solar-driven pump irrigation systems, which offer cost-effective and sustainable alternatives to traditional diesel- or electric-driven pumps,” Guillen said.
Last week, the House committee on appropriations amended the proposed P5.768-trillion national budget for 2024 and realigned P194 billion to fight inflation and “invest in people and the country’s future.”
Appropriations committee chairman Zaldy Co also allotted P20 billion to the Department of Agriculture for the rice subsidy program and help sell the staple at subsidized prices, P2 billion for the Philippine Coconut Authority for the planting/replanting of seedlings, P1.5 billion for vaccines against the African swine fever, and P1 billion for the Philippine Fisheries Development Authority to build fishery and post-harvest facilities in Palawan and Kalayaan Group of Islands.
