NIA exceeds ODA availment target for 1st sem by 51%

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) said it exceeded by 51 percent its official development assistance (ODA) disbursement target for the first semester this year.

The ODA funds were from the Asian Development Bank, Japan Bank for International Cooperation and the World Bank.

NIA said total ODA disbursements amounted to $32.17 from January to June this year compared to a target of $21.35 million, representing an availment rate of 151 percent. The ODA availment rate for the first sem last year was 82 percent.

NIA Administrator Jesus Emmanuel M. Paras said the expect to irrigate 41,800 hectares of new farm lands and rehabilitate existing systems covering 111,200 hectares.

Paras added that except for two projects, all of the 12 foreign assisted projects of the NIA have disbursement rates ranging from 107 percent of 811 percent.

The Maridago-Malitubog Irrigation Project registered an 811-percent disbursement rate while the Help for Catubig Agricultural Advancement Project and Bohol Irrigation Project, 362 percent and 354 percent, respectively.

The Lower-Agusan Development Project posted a disbursement rate of 302 percent while the Pampanga Delta Development Project had a disbursement rate of 282 percent. – Rocel Felix