Davao: 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.

According to Philippines News Agency, 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, stated that 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.

Abbot mentioned that the new assets will be provided to the IMOs in the Davao Region and will be utilized by the irrigator's associations (IA). He emphasized the importance of responding to the needs of farmers, particularly in repairing irrigation facilities, in light of climate change challenges.

The newly acquired assets are expected to effectively address desilting, a crucial activity for maintaining or improving the flow of irrigation canals. Jerry Barayuga, president of the Regional Confederation of Irrigators' Association in the Davao Region, expressed gratitude to the national government and NIA for the new assets, acknowledging their potential benefits for the IAs.

Barayuga encouraged the IAs to cooperate with the agency to ensure the project's sustainability and achieve a positive impact.