FILE PHOTO: Farmers in Bulacan province are assured of irrigation water supply from Angat Dam, although allocation has been reduced due to the dry spell. INQUIRER/NI脩O JESUS ORBETA
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The additional P40 billion to the 2024 budget of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) could be a big help to improve the country鈥檚 agricultural productivity, Administrator Eduardo Guillen said.
Guillen explained that such an amount could irrigate an extra 57,000 hectares of rice lands, producing 570,000 metric tons more palay each year.
The House of Representatives granted the additional P40 billion to NIA after its initially requested P132 billion budget for 2024 was reduced by the Department of Budget and Management to P40 billion.
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鈥淎nd if computed conservatively at P19 per kilo, it (palay) can generate P10.83 billion per year, with a payback period of four years or less,鈥� the NIA official said in a statement Sunday.
He thanked the House of Representatives for giving more budget to NIA, noting that it was a 鈥渨ise investment on Philippine agriculture, the Filipino farmer and, ultimately, the average Filipino rice consumer.鈥�
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鈥淭his significant sum of P40 billion will also play a crucial role in addressing both climate change and sustainability concerns. Solar-powered pump irrigation systems will revolutionize our nation鈥檚 irrigation coverage, reaching previously inaccessible areas while mitigating the impending effects of climate patterns like El Ni帽o,鈥� Guillen added.
Aside from NIA, the House committee on appropriations led by Ako Bicol Party-list Rep. Elizaldy Co also granted additional funding to the Department of Agriculture (P20 billion), Philippine Coconut Authority (P2 billion), Philippine Fisheries Development Authority (P1 billion), and for vaccines against African swine fever (P1.5 billion).