President Benigno Aquino III approves four big irrigation projects that would boost irrigation development of the country. These projects are Casecnan II in Nueva Ecija, Jalaur II in Iloilo, Umayam in Agusan del Sur and the National Irrigation Systems Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (NISRIP) - a nationwide project. The four irrigation projects have a combined total cost of about P23,833.90 M, of which P19,012.34 M is loan while P4,821.56 M is GOP counterpart. The project will generate new area of 36,550 ha and will rehabilitate 98,010 ha benefiting 98,615 farmers.
NIA Administrator Antonio S. Nangel is very happy about the development because it would mean dependable irrigated area that would contribute to the rice self-sufficiency program of the government. "The approval of these projects is very significant because we are on the right direction towards attaining our goal of generating more irrigated areas needed for our rice self-sufficiency program", Nangel said. "President Aquino is really bent on making the country rice self-sufficient as part of his program to alleviate poverty", Nangel added.
