NIA Central Office – Heeding the call of President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Romualdez Marcos, Jr. to eradicate graft and corruption in the Philippine Government, NIA Administrator Benny D. Antiporda and Senior Deputy Administrator Atty. Eryl Royce R. Nagtalon held a press conference on September 19, 2022 at NIA Convention Hall, 5th Floor, DCIEC Building to discuss the Agency’s request to the Office of the Ombudsman for the conduct of further investigation and filing of appropriate criminal and administrative cases against two NIA officials (Attorney IV) for violating the Republic Act No. 3019 (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.
NIA stands to lose the Green Asia Case with colossal amount of P205,958,119.77 due to the officials’ lackadaisical attitude and cavalier handling of the case. Such case could have been avoided if they performed their tasks and duties with devotion, utmost diligence, and good faith. The said damage is unduly suffered by the government and, ultimately, by the taxpayers – an injustice to the Filipino people.
Administrator Antiporda also shared the efforts of NIA to strengthen Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with 50 potential irrigation projects nationwide. Majority of these are big-ticket multipurpose projects with hydropower component with potentials on floating solar power farm and Small River Irrigation Projects (SRIPs) with reservoirs that can be utilized for floating solar power farm and/or mini-hydroelectric power plant.
The Action Man of NIA stated that the Agency can only assure the success of PPP to the investors if there is no corruption and the assurance of the Return of Investment (ROI). At present, NIA already received pledge of investment amounting to more than P1 trillion through Letters of Intent from different investors because of the integrity of Administrator Antiporda in dealing with business ventures. With PPP’s focus on reduced costs, better risk allocation, faster implementation, improved services, and possible generation of additional revenue, NIA calls on the Private Sector for the much-needed investments to the Philippine agriculture.
As part of NIA’s human resource management program, the Agency is now looking for the opportunity to regularize its 72 officials nationwide with acting appointments. Moreover, a total of 564 vacant plantilla (permanent) positions nationwide will be filled up to strengthen the Agency’s social capital. The said undertaking is deemed vital to efficiently deliver the Agency’s irrigation service to the Filipino farmers.
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**For questions and/or clarifications, you may contact:
CLARIZZE C. TORIBIO
Acting Department Manager
NIA Public Affairs and Information Staff
E-mail: pais@nia.gov.ph
Landline: (02) 8921-3741 loc. 113
