CLARIFICATORY STATEMENT ON THE Php9.9B NIA BUDGET ALLOCATED TO NCR

The National Irrigation Administration (NIA), through the Public Affairs and Information Staff (PAIS), offers this clarificatory statement to give light on the issue being circulated in the media about the supposed Php9.9B-fund allocated to NCR for “irrigation projects.”

The Php9,865,878.00 (to be exact) is not meant to fund irrigation projects in Metro Manila for a very obvious reason: there are no irrigation projects or systems in this very urbanized part of the country. The said amount, although it is stated in the DBM document that it is allocated to National Capital Region, is in fact for projects with Project Management Offices based at the NIA Central Office in Quezon City and/or activities undertaken by some sectors at the central office.

These projects/activities include the following:

I.                    Locally-Funded Projects

a.       Feasibility Studies, Detailed Engineering, and Pre-Engineering Activities of various projects. The conduct of Feasibility Studies requires specialists from various disciplines, and such positions are only available at the Central Office. (Php310.000M)

b.      Provision for the Non-Power Component of the San Roque Multipurpose Project, of which Php3.789B is for payment of unbooked obligations.

II.                  Foreign-Assisted Projects*

a.       Participatory Irrigation Development Project-Phase I (PIDP), nationwide (Php152.410M)

b.      National Irrigation Sector Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (NISRIP), nationwide (Php927.070M)

c.       Jalaur River Multipurpose Irrigation Project Stage II (Php1.190B)

d.      Adopting to Climate Change Impact Through the Construction of Water Impounding Facilities in the Philippines (Pasa SRIP in Isabela) (Php9.215M)

*These projects have Project Management Offices at the NIA Central Office in Quezon City.

III.                Programs

a.       General Administration and Support (General Management and Supervision) (Php1,642,973.00)

b.      Support to Operations (Irrigation Support Services [Php72.265M); Monitoring and Evaluation Activities for Grassroots Participatory Budgeting Project [Php5.361M]; and Quick Response Fund [Php500.000M])

c.       Operations (Construction of Irrigation Projects and Repairs of Irrigation System – Payment of Right of Way [Php939.002M]; Completion works and Unpaid claims and damages of completed projects [Php63.285M]; Irrigation Management Transfer Support Services [Php12.000M]; and Climate Change Adaptation Works [Php16.500M])

d.      CARP-IC (for the requirement of the Program Beneficiaries Development Component of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program) (Php236.793M)

The amounts stated herein are either released or held at the Central Office to support the various activities included in each of the project/program and not intended for the actual construction and rehabilitation of irrigation projects/systems and other irrigation-related activities in NCR/Metro Manila.

It is hoped that we have provided you sufficient information regarding the issue at hand.  Should you have any other questions on the matter or other concerns regarding our agency, our office is more than willing to provide you with the most  objective and credible information that will better inform the public about NIA’s existence and efforts in agricultural productivity and nation-building.

Thank you.

PILIPINA P. BERMUDEZ

Department Manager A

Public Affairs and Information Staff, NIA

Palayan wages war vs wastes, crafts 10-year waste management plan

PALAYAN CITY – This city – Nueva Ecija’s capital – has waged a protracted war against wastes by formulating a 10-year Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) intended to mitigate the impact of a worsening garbage disposal problem whose projected volume of 13.2 tons of waste per day could double over the  same period.

          Mayor Adrianne Mae Cuevas said the city government’s SWMP is in consonance with the provisions of Republic Act 9003, also known as the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act which mandates local government units (LGUs) to prepare their respective SWMPs for the re-use, recycling and composting of generated waste and its efficient management and disposal.

          “This 10-year plan contains all the components provided in RA 9003 and a timetable for implementation in accordance with the national framework plan. It contains the direction, scope and the process by which the plan was developed,” she said, adding its main features are to provide a doable ecological solid waste management program, creating the necessary institutional mechanism and incentives, declaring certain acts prohibited, providing penalties among others.

          “It conforms to the city government’s vision of turning Palayan into a vibrant capital of Nueva Ecija with a well-managed environment, effective and efficient waste management system that addresses the waste problems not only through reduction and recycling but also through organic fertilizer production, establishment of material recovery facilities (MRFs) in the barangays and pocket green parks around the city,” she added.

          Anelyn Bongcawil, city environment and natural resources officer, noted that as early as 2010, the preparation of the city’s SWMP was already started and submitted to the National Solid Waste Management Council (NSWMC) and the Environmental Management Bureau (EMB) of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

          However, its approval was held in abeyance by these agencies due to inaccurate data and for failing to conform with the provincial and regional SWMPs.

          The Cuevas administration has since instituted various programs and measures such as the closure of controlled and open dumpsites in Barangay Atate, the adoption of clean and green programs and construction of a model MRF awarded by the NSWMC.

          At present, the city government has established barangay MRFs in six of its 19 barangays. These are located in barangays Aulo, Bagong Buhay, Caballero, Mapaet (formerly Manggahan), Militar and Santolan.

          Helen Grace Antonio, a consultant from the mayor’s office, said that based on their projection, the volume of the city’s waste could balloon from 13.2 tons per day (tpd) at the end of 2014 to 23 tpd by 2023.

          By 2015, this could go up to 14.2 tons per day, to 15.6 tpd by 2016, to 16.8 tpd by 2017, to 17 tpd by 2018, to 18.2 tpd by 2019, to 19.4 tpd by 2020, to 20.6 tpd by 2021, to 21.8 tpd by 2022 and finally to 23 tpd by 2023.

          Based on a report, biodegradable wastes form the bulk of collected wastes at 4,273.2 kilograms per day (kpd) followed by recyclables at 2,353.2 kpd, residual wastes with 5,086.8 kpd and special wastes at 288 kpd.

          Antonio said that the major sources of residual wastes are six urban barangays of the city (38.11%), the 13 rural barangays (36.48%) and non-households (14.74%).

          The most common residual wastes include diapers, sando bags, thin films, metallic, metallic foil and sachet, tarpaulin and broken ceramics.                

          The garbage problem has become a major issue during last year’s elections when Cuevas was accused by her political rival of reportedly supporting the establishment of a sanitary landfill in a 20-hectare site in Barangay Imelda Valley.

          The proposed sanitary landfill was contained in a 25-year lease agreement entered into in June 2012 by Cuevas’ predecessor, former mayor Romeo Capinpin with a waste-to-energy corporation.

          Cuevas denied she is supporting the landfill project, saying she was in fact instrumental in having the contract between the Capinpin administration and the firm Ecosci Corporation rescinded by the Sangguniang Panlunsod.

          Cuevas said it has consistently been her position to oppose the proposed sanitary landfill together with Nueva Ecija Gov. Aurelio Umali not only because of the health hazards but also because of the stiff opposition by civic leaders and local residents.

          She said the city government is bent on pursuing the setting up of an economic zone in the city, a vision which it shares with the provincial government. – Manny Galvez