Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. described President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s decision to transfer the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) under the Office of the President (OP) as both “strategic” and a “game changer.”
According to Laurel, while NIA’s role aligns with the Department of Agriculture (DA), the urgent need to irrigate over one million hectares of farmland makes the transfer a smart move. It ensures that the agency will receive adequate funding and resources.
Laurel explained that the immediate irrigation requirement for over 1.2 million hectares of farmland will be more effectively addressed with the larger budget and additional resources that the OP can provide.
Previously under the DA, NIA now seeks a P512 billion budget for 2025, most of which is allocated for irrigation projects. However, the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) only approved a P200.2 billion request for the DA in the 2025 budget proposal.
Laurel expressed confidence that under the OP, NIA’s needs would be fully addressed, improving its service to farmers and contributing to stronger food production.