National Irrigation Administration (NIA) head Claro V. Maranan reports that the damaged irrigation facilities inflicted by Typhoon Yolanda in Region 8 are now at 98% operational. This was during the flag-raising ceremony at NIA-Central Office on Monday, March 17, 2014.
This was based on the two-day site visitation of The Department of Agriculture Secretary, Proceso J. Alcala together with the NIA Administrator Maranan in Tacloban.
On the first visit of NIA Administrator on December 17 & 18, 40 days after Typhoon Yolanda, it was reported that the Regional Offices have already responded to the damages in irrigation facilities were at 50% operational.
Since then, the operations on the irrigation facilities reached 70% in January 2014 and as of March 11, 2014, it was at 98%. Simultaneously, Dir. Romy Quiza also reported that the rice harvest is now on-going until April of this year. In a related development, Dir. Gerardo Corsiga added that the damaged irrigation facilities in Region 6 are now 100% operational.
While the 2014 budget approval is still on process, Administrator Maranan was able to request realignment of around P140,000,000.00 for the Yolanda affected areas.
