MANILA, Philippines – President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. transferred the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) from the Department of Agriculture (DA) to the Office of the President (OP) under Executive Order 69 signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin last September 5.
NIA is a government-owned and -controlled corporation (GOCC) responsible for the country’s irrigation system.
“Irrigation management and development is vital towards achieving food security and ensuring infrastructure development in the country, which are among the Administration’s priority initiatives,” the order read.
Under EO 69, the NIA board of directors will be composed of the following:
- Representative from the Office of the President
- Administrator, NIA
- Secretary, Department of Public Works and Highways
- Secretary, Department of Agriculture
- Secretary, National Economic and Development Authority
- Representative from the private sector to be appointed by the President
“Isang mahalagang hakbang po ito upang higit pang palakasin ang aming misyon na pagbutihin ang mga sistema ng irigasyon at tiyakin ang pangmatagalang pag-unlad ng agrikultura sa buong bansa,” NIA Administrator Eduardo Guillen said on Tuesday, September 10.
(This is one important step to further strengthen our mission to improve our irrigation system and ensure the long-lasting development of agriculture in our country.)
In a Palace briefing last March, Guillen said they aim to build three to five high dams by 2028 — the last year of Marcos administration — saying these can contribute to flood control, irrigation, hydropower, and aquaculture.
NIA had been under the OP since its inception in 1963. It was then attached to the DA in 1992.
In 2014, NIA transferred from DA to OP. Eight years later, the office was once again transferred from OP to the DA. This move back to the DA in 2022 had been touted by the agriculture department as some form of reunion.
Last year, NIA faced a Senate inquiry on substandard facilities and an alleged rigged public bidding. – Rappler.com