Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 19) — The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) found itself in hot water yet again as Senator Cynthia Villar chastised the agency for massive delays in the completion of irrigation projects.
Villar, who on Thursday led a Senate finance subcommittee’s hearing on NIA’s proposed ₱41.2 billion budget for next year, said some projects which began in 2018 have a completion rate of only 10%.
At one point, a visibly irked Villar rose from her seat as she lashed out at NIA officials.
“Mas maganda pa mas less project pero mas ginagawa, kaysa kadami-dami niyong project puro 5%, 10%… E di walang impact iyan sa tao,” Villar said.
“Ano bang kalokohan yan? Katangahan iyan,” she added.
[Translation: It would be better to do less and accomplish more, instead of having many projects with 5% and 10% accomplishment. That has no impact on the people. What is that? That’s stupidity.]
Villar recalled the case of the Balog-Balog Dam and Irrigation Project in San Jose, Tarlac which was earlier put under the spotlight as Senator Raffy Tulfo exposed it has been delayed for decades. Phase 2 of the project is only 50% accomplished, Villar noted.
“Kung ako si PNoy pagbabarilin ko kayo ‘pag ‘di niyo tinapos ang Balog-Balog during my term. ‘Di ba? Kaya ka naging presidente para tapusin mo ‘yung project doon sa bayan mo. Biruin mo, namatay na si PNoy, 2023, 50%?” Villar said, referring to former President Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III, who hails from Tarlac.
[Translation: If I were PNoy I would shoot all of you if you do not complete Balog-Balog during my term. You become a president to finish the project in your hometown. Imagine, PNoy already died but Balog-Balog still remains at 50% accomplishment rate in 2023?]
NIA Administrator Eduardo “Eddie” Guillen said the agency will submit a catch-up plan. Out of 80 pending projects, the agency will prioritize more than 30 for next year, Guillen said.
“Yung mga nakita namin na hindi gumagalaw, yun ang irerealign namin ang budget,” he said. “Kaya nga hindi ko pinropose lahat yung projects na previous e kasi nung ievaluate ko nakita ko na pag pinropose namin, hindi gagalaw e.”
[Translation: We will realign the funding for projects that have no progress. I did not propose to fund all projects from the previous administration because my assessment showed they are not likely to make any progress.]
