The National Irrigation Administration in the Davao Region (NIA-11) on Monday received PHP49.4 million worth of heavy and light equipment and vehicles from its central office, which will be distributed to various irrigation management offices (IMOs) in the region.

This marks the third tranche of equipment received by NIA-11, bringing the total to 32 units of heavy and light equipment and vehicles valued at PHP136.9 million received from December 2023 to June this year.

Engineer Al Ted Abbot, officer-in-charge of NIA-11, said the re-fleeting program aims to ensure the regular operation and maintenance of national irrigation systems, facilitate the repair of canals, upgrade aging equipment, and enhance core capabilities for irrigation facility management.

“These new assets will be given to the IMOs in Davao Region and will be utilized by the irrigator’s associations (IA). We are experiencing climate change, and we need to immediately respond to the needs of the farmers, like repairs in irrigation facilities,” he said in an interview.

Abbot said the newly acquired assets can effectively address desilting, a major activity crucial for maintaining or improving the flow of irrigation canals.

Meanwhile, Jerry Barayuga, president of the Regional Confederation of Irrigators’ Association in Davao Region, expressed gratitude to the national government and NIA for the new assets, which he believes will greatly benefit the IAs.

“We prayed for this to come, and here it is now,” he said.

To ensure the project’s sustainability, Barayuga urged the IAs to cooperate with the agency to achieve a positive impact. (PNA)