NIA Advocates for PPPs Worth ₱800 Billion

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) wants public-private partnerships (PPPs) worth around ₱800 billion for irrigation projects in the country.

With PPP’s target of faster implementation, reduced costs, better risk allocation, and possible generation of additional revenue, the NIA is looking at the private sector for more investments in the agriculture industry.

NIA Administrator, Benny Antiporda has mentioned that the NIA wants to improve its PPP thrust with around 50 possible irrigation projects nationwide.

According to him, the approximate costs of these projects are predicted to be around ₱800 billion with inflation, rising prices, and other factors.

Most of these projects plan on using a hydropower component with possibilities of floating solar power farms and small river irrigation projects (SRIPs)  that can be used for mini-hydroelectric power plants or floating solar power farms.

“The biggest problem of NIA is funding to undertake irrigation projects,” said Antiporda.

NIA reportedly already received a part of its investments amounting to around ₱1 trillion from multiple investors.

“There are potential applications for more than P1 trillion from potential private partners which will then allow irrigation projects without restrictions of funding,” said Antiporda.

Antiporda has also mentioned that NIA can only ensure the PPPs success if there would be no corruption during the entire duration of the project.

This agency has already filed cases with the Office of the Ombudsman against two officials in their legal department, specifically, Mary Annabelle Cruz-Domingo and Lloyd Allain Cudal due to their violations of the Anti-Graft and Corrupt Practices Act, Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards of Public Officials and Employees, Gross Inexcusable Negligence, Misconduct and Conduct Unbecoming of Public Officers in the performance of their official duties or Republic Act No. 3019.

Source: Philstar