President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Monday oversaw the distribution of P799.56 million worth of irrigation machinery in Taguig City, marking the third tranche of the National Irrigation Authority’s (NIA) refleeting program.
A total of 229 units—including bulldozers, backhoes, dump trucks, coasters, drones, and other equipment—were turned over to support the nationwide operations and maintenance of irrigation systems.
“Umaasa tayo na mas bibilis ang pagsasaayos ng mga nasirang irigasyon at ang pagtatayo ng mga bagong patubig,” Marcos Jr. said in his speech.
“Kapag maayos ang irigasyon, mas malaki ang ani, mas maganda ang kalidad ng ating mga produkto, mas malaki ang kita ng ating mga magsasaka,” he said.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. expressed his gratitude to Filipino farmers for their vital role in keeping the nation fed, acknowledging their hard work and perseverance in the face of numerous challenges. He also called on the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) to strengthen its commitment to delivering efficient and timely services to the agriculture sector.
“Hiling ko sa inyo na pagigtingin pa ang pagsisilbi makinig sa kanilang hinaing… Huwag hintayin na sila ang lumapit sa inyo. Kayo na ang lumapit sa ating mga magsasaka,” Marcos Jr said.
“Huwag natin sayangin ang tiwalang pinagkaloob sa atin ng taong bayan… Kahit na may makinarya, kailangan pa din ng masisipag na kamay ng mga magsasaka,” he added.
Meanwhile, NIA Administrator Eduardo Guillen announced that 17 mini buses and 17 service vehicles will be allocated to various NIA regional offices. These vehicles are intended to support the mobility of irrigation officials, allowing them to reach remote areas and far-flung villages more efficiently as they carry out field inspections and provide on-the-ground support to local farming communities.
“Bahagi ito ng ating patuloy na layunin na mapataas ang kita ng ating mga magsasaka at mapabuti ang kanilang kabuhayan,” he said.
“Sa pamamagitan ng mga ito, mas lalo natin maipapadama na ang govyerno ay kumikilos at lumalapit sa mga magsasaka,” he added.
Since 2023, Marcos has led the annual distribution of irrigation equipment as part of efforts to boost the agriculture sector.
The first tranche of the NIA refleeting program took place in Zambales in 2023, where P776 million worth of machinery was handed over to the agency’s regional offices. In 2024, the President continued the initiative with a turnover of P782 million worth of equipment during a visit to Pampanga.
In a move to strengthen the agency’s role in agricultural development, Marcos Jr. placed the NIA under the Office of the President last year. The agency has since committed to constructing 50 new dams nationwide by the end of the current administration in 2028.