NIA cancels P10-M Aurora irrigation project

DINGALAN, Aurora, Philippines – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has cancelled a P10-million irrigation project here due to a right of way problem.

Angelito Miguel, manager of the NIA’s Bulacan-Aurora-Nueva Ecija  (BANE) division, on Friday said they realigned the budget allocated for the Umiray irrigation project although it had been awarded to a winning contractor.

BANE is one of three divisions of the NIA Region 3 office under regional manager Josephine Salazar. The others are the Tarlac-Zambales and Pampanga-Bataan divisions.  

The project suffered a setback after lawyer Romeo Roxas, the owner of a property where it was to be constructed, set up a checkpoint in Umiray village, preventing NIA officials and field officers from proceeding with the project.

Miguel said the project was supposed to provide irrigation to 100 hectares of farmlands and benefit at least 50 farmers.

He said they have no choice but to transfer the funding, which has been earmarked under the Fund 101 of the General Appropriations Act.

The Umiray irrigation project is one of two irrigation projects identified in the province. The other was the P18-million Disalit communal river irrigation system in San Luis town.   

Shierwin Taay, executive director of the National Youth Commission, said legal remedies should be taken against Roxas.

Taay said the Roxas property is also involved in a dispute with the provincial government over a public road, which allegedly encroached on the lawyer’s land.

He said the provincial and municipal governments have talked with Roxas and his representatives, but nothing came out of it.