MANILA-Rank-and-file
employees of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) are visibly elated
and are having fun during the agency’s 51st anniversary rites at the
agency’s central office along Edsa Friday afternoon.
Reason : there is no President Aquino around to ruin the
party, he being a known KJ or killjoy, a term to describe party spoiler.
During last Friday’s awarding rites for most outstanding
irrigators’ associations, operation managers and project managers, employees
were seen exhibiting unbridled emotion, raining the area with cheers. They were
overjoyed that the Chief Executive was not invited to possibly – again – ruin
their day with a sermon just like what he did last year.
“Buti naman at wala siya dito. KJ siya kasi. Masisira lang
ang araw namin. Baka manermon na naman (It’s a good thing he was not here. It’s
because he’s a KJ.He would unmake our day. He might deliver another sermon),”
one of the employees commented.
He recalled that Mr. Aquino’s speech during last year’s
anniversary rites where he lambasted then-administrator Antonio Nangel while
everybody was in a jolly and upbeat mood still leaves a bad taste in the mouth
of the NIA family, particularly the employees who were expecting him to
announce an anniversary bonus.
It would be
recalled that in June last year, Aquino scolded Nangel over the agency’s
supposed failure to meet its targets. The President, in last year’s 15-minute
speech, said he was “dismayed” with the NIA leadership because it was only able
to irrigate 52,000 hectares out of its 81,170-hectare target in 2012, or a 65%
accomplishment rate.
From 2001 to
2009, he said NIA failed to meet its yearly irrigation targets, getting as far
as only 66%. He said in 2011, when he was already President, NIA was able to
irrigate 32,830 out of its target area of 37,659 hectares or a high 87%.
“I will be
honest with you, I am still dismayed because until now, it shows that there is
little change happening in the National Irrigation Administration. We are
already in the middle of our term and it is difficult if until now, you still
don’t know what you want to do,” he told Nangel as Agriculture Secretary
Proceso Alcala looked on.
He also
failed to hide his disappointment over the non-implementation of Phase 2 of the
Balog-Balog Irrigation Project in his home province of Tarlac.
After
finishing his sermon, the President left in a huff, without even waving to the
crowd who he failed to acknowledge at the start of his speech.
Prior to Mr.
Aquino’s speech, the atmosphere inside the oven-hot venue was festive and
upbeat as Nangel excitedly rattled off the agency’s accomplishments under his
watch. He said that irrigation development in the country rose from 49% in 2009
to 56% in 2012 owing to the funding support from the Aquino administration.
Employees
called the presidential dressing-down as uncalled for and inappropriate as he
ignored the agency’s having achieved corporate financial viability, the first
time it has happened in 50 years.
A
week later, he replaced Nangel with Claro Maranan.
In last
Friday’s rites, the culminating activity of a week-long festivity, employees
shouted themselves hoarse during the awarding ceremonies, marked by a fashion
show of the 60’s and 80’s.
Maranan
reported that among the accomplishments made by the agency
has been improvements in its database and that it has bidded out the projects
for 2012 and 2013.
He added that as of March of 2014, NIA’s accomplishment was
around 72.54% that shows improvement in the delivery of irrigation development
projects.
This year’s anniversary rites, which carry the theme: Tulong-tulong,
Sama-sama sa Pagsulong ng NIA sa Pandaigdigang Pagbabago ng Klima,” kicked off
last June 16 with a business forum and the setting up of a tiangge and fun
games.
