Budget delay, typhoons hamper irrigation projects

MANILA, Philippines - Due to a delay in the release of its budget and the spate of typhoons that hit the country this year, the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) was able to complete a lowly 24.02 percent of its targeted new vital irrigation projects as of Sept. 30 this year (including some carry-over projects from 2010).

Damages from typhoons Falcon to Quiel, affected a total of 186,972 hectares in 10 regions with a total cost of almost P700 million, said NIA chief Antonio Nangel, who, nonetheless remained optimistic that the NIA could still catch up and attain its targets of 27,140 hectares of new areas, restoration of 28,290 has. and rehabilitation of 100,680 has.

Carry-over projects from 2010 for new projects of 2,386 has; restored projects of 27,008 has and rehabilitated project of 24,297 has.

Thus, as of Sept. 30, the targeted new irrigation areas is 29,526 has. with a completed 7,019 has. of new areas for a completion rate of 24.02 percent; targeted rehabilitated of 124,977 has. with a completed rehabilitated area of 84,088 has. for a completion rate of 67.28 percent, and a targeted restored area of 55,298 has. with a completed 26,373 has. for a completion rate of 47.69 percent.

However, Nangel said, if inter-agency projects such as those under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Projects (CARP) are included, the total targeted new areas would rise to 33, 344 has. with completed new areas of 9,556 has. for a higher completion rate of 28.65 percent.

Likewise, including inter-agency (CARP) projects for rehabilitated areas, the target would be 126,852 has. with a slightly higher completion rate of 67.45 percent.

Nangel clarified that by completion, he is referring to irrigation projects that have been fully completed and can be used to irrigate fields, even as several irrigation projects are still ongoing and in various stages of completion.

Nangel hopes to fast-track the implementation of vital irrigation projects in the next couple of months.

Nangel, who took over in September 2010, said the NIA’s 2011 budget of P12.79 billion was released only in May.

Nangel intends to meet by December its full 2011 target, in line with the Department of Agriculture’s three-year rice self-sufficiency program.

Under the NIA’s three-year irrigation program starting mid -2010 up to 2013, the target area of generated new area is 170, 719 hectares; restored area of 113,363 hectares and rehabilitated area of 208,554 hectares.

The three-year program has been allotted a budget P57.556 billion for three years.

Nangel is hoping that the current budget deliberations for the NIA’s 2012 budget of P24.7 billion will be completed by December so that release of the funds could be done by January or February next year and the irrigation projects started in the first quarter of 2012.