NIA backs Ecija execs' call to suspend irrigation fees

CABANATUAN CITY  ,Philippines – National Irrigation Administration (NIA) chief Antonio Nangel yesterday said he supports the request of local officials in Nueva Ecija to exempt local farmers whose farmlands were affected by recent calamities from paying irrigation service fees (ISF).

Nangel said existing policies are in place to exempt farmers from paying their ISFs during force majeure situations such as typhoons.

He said he instructed Reynaldo Puno and Josephine Salazar, outgoing and incoming operations manager, respectively of the Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (UPRIIS), the operator of the Pantabangan Dam, to validate the damage assessment report in the province following the devastation wrought by “Pedring” and “Quiel”.

Earlier, local officials led by Gov. Aurelio Umali, Vice Gov. Jose Gay Padiernos, the Sangguniang Panlalawigan and the provincial chapter of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines asked the suspension of the collection of ISFs in the province, where at least P2 billion worth of palay was damaged by recent typhoons.

A resolution passed by the SP chaired by Padiernos said the damage will surely burden the farmers and their families who pay 2.5 to 3.5 cavans of palay per hectare for irrigation water provided by NIA.