Guillen: NIA’s transfer to OP crucial to food security target

MANILA - National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Administrator Eduardo Guillen on Thursday said the agency's transfer to the Office of the President (OP) is crucial in realizing the administration's target to achieve food security. President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. earlier ordered the reorganization and transfer of the NIA from the Department of Agriculture (DA) to the OP under Executive Order No. 69. During the Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon briefing, Guillen said the President's move only shows his 'sincerity' in his vow to achieve food security as part of his 8-point economic agenda. 'Kasi ang kailangan talaga ng food security ay itong irigasyon. So, para matugunan nang mabilis ito kaya tayo nandiyan na ho sa (What is really needed for food security is irrigation. So, for us to quickly address this, we are now placed) under (the) Office of the President,' he said. Under the OP, Guillen assured that NIA's big-ticket projects in convergence with other government agencies including the DA and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will be streamlined. 'Diretso na po tayo sa opisina ng Presidente ano po. Noon kasi madami kang dadaanan na mga proseso, eh ngayon po ay mas mapapabilis (We are now directly under the Office of the President. Before, the process is very tedious, but now it will be faster),' he said, citing the possibility to save at least two to three months of processing time. To date, he said NIA has numerous projects lined up for irrigation and water or flood management, for around 1.2 million hectares of irrigable land. Increasing yield Guillen, meanwhile, expressed confidence in increasing the country's output for rice and corn production. 'Gustong matutukan ng ating Pangulo ay iyong pag-increase ng ating (Our president wants us to focus on increasing our) production sa pamamagitan ng paglipat ng ating (through the adjustment of our) cropping calendar,' he said. The NIA eyes to start another cropping in October, targeting to increase the number of cropping seasons per year. 'Maaasa han ho natin by next year ay maramdaman na ho natin iyong increase ng ating productions hindi lang sa palay kundi sa (We can expect that by next year, we will start to feel the increase in our production not only in palay but also in) corn,' Guillen added. The NIA chief likewise assured positive improvements for the welfare of local farmers. 'Sa mga susunod na taon lalo ngayon at nasa OP na kami, mararamdaman ng ating mga farmers, ng ating mga irrigators association, po ang mas mabilis, mas mabisa na mga programa ng ating gobyerno (In the coming years, especially now that we are under OP, our farmers, our irrigators' associations, will experience faster, more effective programs of the government).' Source: Philippines News agency