CEBU CITY, Cebu (PIA) — Farmers and irrigators associations in Central Visayas benefited from the assistance and support programs extended by the National Irrigation Administration in Region 7 (NIA-7).
During the ‘Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas’ in Central Visayas program on Oct. 22, NIA-7 reported that they have provided several assistance and other support programs to aid the farmers and irrigators associations in the region.
NIA-7 regional manager Engr. Rory F. Avance said they have implemented RA10969, or the ‘Free Irrigation Service Act’, which exempts farmers with less than 8 hectares of land from paying the Irrigation Service Fee (ISF)
“Another accomplishment achieved by our agency was the provision of farmer assistance. We all know that the irrigation service fee is now free; through RA 10969, farmers with landholdings of 8 hectares or less are exempt from paying the irrigation service fee for water sourced from NIA National and Communal Irrigation Systems,” Avance said.
The NIA-7 also provided operations and maintenance subsidies to irrigators associations or IAs in the amount of P500 per hectare.
“On the part of NIA, we are also providing operations and maintenance subsidies to our irrigators associations amounting to P500 per hectare as our way to help them manage and maintain our irrigation systems,” he added.
NIA-7 has also given remunerations to irrigators associations to be used for canal clearing.
The remunerations amounting to P2,800 are given every maintenance period for IAs with 7-kilometer lined canals and 3.5-kilometer unlined canals.
NIA was the featured agency during the 22nd episode of the “Kapihan sa Bagong Pilipinas” program, a platform initiated by the Presidential Communication Office (PCO) through the Philippine Information Agency (PIA).
Watch the full episode here:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/PtzcR5ztupXnvHG2/. (RGC/PIA7 Cebu)
