Ecijano named new NIA administrator

CABANATUAN CITY, Philippines – President Aquino has named a Novo Ecijano as the new administrator of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA).

Antonio Nangel, operations manager of the Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (UPRIIS), took his oath of office before Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala last Thursday, two days after Mr. Aquino signed his appointment papers.

UPRIIS is the country’s largest national irrigation system and operates the giant Pantabangan Dam, covering 102,000 hectares of farmlands in Central Luzon.

Nangel’s designation ended weeks of speculations on who would succeed Carlos Salazar, an appointee of former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

Prior to his designation, Nangel was the subject of a controversy when he was linked to the alleged non-payment by UPRIIS of contributions to the Government Service Insurance System.

Nangel denied the allegations, saying these were part of a demolition job against him. He said the UPRIIS does not owe the GSIS a single centavo in unpaid premiums.