NE gov airs support for NIA-UPRIIS exec

CABANATUAN CITY , Philippines  â€“ Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali has expressed full support for the operations manager of the National Irrigation Administration’s Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems (NIA-UPRIIS) who is facing graft charges for alleged failure to serve a dismissal order against an employee.

In a letter to NIA administrator Claro Maranan, Umali personally vouched for the integrity of UPRIIS operations manager Josephine Salazar, who he described as a hard worker.

Two foundations filed a graft case against Salazar before the Office of the Ombudsman after she reportedly failed to serve a dismissal order against water resources technician Melanio Santos.

Umali said he is satisfied with the performance of the NIA-UPRIIS under Salazar’s leadership.

He said the official has established good working relation with congressional leaders, local chief executives and the provincial government, which is beneficial to the province and to the NIA itself.

He cited the accomplishments of Salazar who is included in NIA’s Hall-of-Famers’ list for being the no. 1 division manager for three consecutive years or from 2009 to and 2011, and was named Director of the Year in 2012.

Apart from this, Salazar received the Pag-asa award from the Civil Service Commission in 2012.

In expressing support for Salazar, Umali said NIA is one of the most important agencies of the government in improving the economy through effective and efficient irrigation management.

 He said this task would be hard to pursue if NIA and the local government units didn’t  have the proper coordination and communication in implementing irrigation projects in the provinces.

“The LGUs, especially the provincial government, should have a good rapport with your directors and managers in the provincial and regional offices to fulfill our common goal of helping farmers,” he said in his letter to Maranan.