Free Irrigation Law Signed by President Duterte

Irrigation won’t be a problem for farmers anymore as President Duterte signed the Congress-approved free irrigation law: Republic Act No. 10969.

The free irrigation law that was signed on February 2 states that the National Irrigation Authority (NIA), other state agencies, and irrigators’ associations (IAs) must exempt farmers tilling eight hectares and below from paying irrigation fees.

NIA is also obligated, as stated by the law, to condone unpaid fees including interest and penalties owed by farmers as well as loans, interest, and surcharges incurred by irrigators’ associations.

Rules and regulations will be issued by NIA while appropriations necessary to implement the law will be included in the annual budget.

“The law will translate to more money in the pockets of our farmers,” according to Davao City Rep. Karlo Nograles who chairs the House appropriations committee.

“We laud President Duterte for making free irrigation a reality for our farmers. This law will definitely jumpstart the modernization of Philippine agriculture and, more importantly, unlock endless earning opportunities for our farmers,” he also added.

He also said that law can help improve the local agriculture sector’s growth by increasing productivity: “We can turn around our farmers’ production levels through democratized irrigation since it helps crops flourish. The next step is enhancing productivity by tapping new technology. The Duterte administration is already drawing up plans for this to come to fruition.”

Nograles also pointed out the efforts of Congress to subsidize free irrigation for small farmers even before the law was signed. In fact, a P2.6-billion budget was set aside as subsidy for free irrigation — a 30 percent increase from last year’s allocation worth P2 billion.

via Philippine Star / Jess Diaz