The National Irrigation Administration Region III received 500 units of Shallow Tube Well Pumps with corresponding fuel subsidy from the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS), National Water Resources Board (NWRB), Maynilad and Manila Water in a turnover ceremony held at the NIA Regional Office III Compound in Tambubong, San Rafael, Bulacan on January 28, 2022. Such STW pumps were then awarded to the Irrigators Associations of Bulacan and Pampanga.
This is the result of the successful negotiation of NIA with the MWSS, NWRB, Maynilad and Manila Water regarding the mitigation plans of NIA to meet the water supply requirements for irrigation without sacrificing the equally important need for domestic water supply in Manila and its nearby provinces.
The provision of STW Pumps to the farmers is one of the seven mitigation plans presented by NIA Region III Manager Josephine B. Salazar wherein through the STW pumps, the farmers will be able to re-use water from drainage/creeks.
Aside from the 500 STW pumps, a corresponding fuel subsidy amounting to P15 million has also been granted by the MWSS, through its water concessionaires.
Present in the ceremony were the key players from other government agencies and private companies - Dr. Sevillo D. David, Jr. CESO III (NWRB Executive Director), Engr. Leonor C. Cleofas, CESO IV (MWSS Administrator), PDDG Reynaldo V. Velasco (Ret) (MWSS Ex-Chairman and Acting Administrator), Mr. Randolph Estrellado (Maynilad Chief Operating Officer), and Mr. Arnold Jether A. Mortera (Manila Water Group Director). Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando together with 4th District Board Member Alex Castro also attended the event.
The event was also attended by Gen Ricardo R. Visaya (Ret) (NIA Administrator) together with Engr. Freddie M. Toquero Ph.D. (NIA Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance Sector), Engr. Josephine B. Salazar (NIA R3 Manager), and Ms. Eden Victoria C. Selva (Public Affairs and Information Staff Manager).
The ceremony would not be complete without the farmer-beneficiaries which Engr. Salazar said are the “pinaka-VIPs” of the event. They are headed by Mr. Guillermo Mangalus, Bulacan – AMRIS Federation of IA and Regional Confederation of IA President together with the FIA officers and 12 working station presidents representing the 116 IAs who will benefit from the STW pumps.
“We at the National Irrigation Administration express our gratitude to our partners, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System, National Water Resources Board, and to our water concessionaires – Maynilad and Manila Water for your continuing assistance in the agricultural sector in the Philippines”, NIA Administrator Visaya said.
500 units of shallow tube well pumps turned over to NIA and awarded to Bulacan and Pampanga farmers (116 Irrigators Associations)
Mr. Randolph Estrellado, Chief Operating Officer of Maynilad
Mr. Arnold Jether Mortera, Group Director of Manila Water
Dr. Sevillo D. David, Jr. CESO III, NWRB Director
Engr. Leonor Cleofas, MWSS Administrator
Bulacan Governor Daniel Fernando
4th District Board Member Alex Castro
Signing of Turnover and Acceptance Documents led by NIA Administrator Visaya and MWSS Administrator Cleofas with NWRB Director David as the witness
The working station presidents representing a total of 116 Irrigators Associations beneficiaries of shallow tube well pumps from Bulacan and Pampanga with their certificate of award
NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya gives his acceptance message for the turnover ceremony of shallow tube well pumps.
Engr. Josephine B. Salazar, NIA Region III Manager acknowledges the assistance of MWSS, NWRB, Maynilad and Manila Water to the farmer-beneficiaries of Bulacan and Pampanga.
**For questions and/or clarifications, you may contact:
Department Manager
NIA Public Affairs and Information Staff
E-mail: evcselva2000@yahoo.com
