House to grant NIA request for P40 billion additional budget

MANILA, Philippines — The House of Representatives will grant the request of the National Irrigation Authority (NIA) for additional funding amounting to P40 billion to finance its irrigation projects, Speaker Martin Romualdez said yesterday.

Citing the “crucial” role of irrigation in boosting agricultural productivity, he noted that NIA has formally asked the chamber to restore some P90 billion slashed from the agency’s proposed 2024 budget.

“They are asking for P100 billion but what we can give them is P40 billion so there will likely be a realignment of funds,” he added.

NIA acting administrator Eddie Guillen made the request, citing data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on the early arrival and possible intensification of the El Niño phenomenon.

Guillen also underscored that they needed the funding to ensure food security.

NIA had proposed a budget of P132 billion next year but the Department of Budget and Management only granted P41.2 billion.

The agency intends to use the slashed budget to finance projects such as solar pumps and engine-driven pumps, among others.

SUC funding

Meanwhile, Makabayan bloc partylist representatives Raoul Manuel of Kabataan, Arlene Brosas of Gabriela and France Castro of ACT Teachers Partylist filed House Resolution 1325 asking the House committee on appropriations to reconsider the total allocated budget for state universities and colleges (SUCs) in the proposed funding in 2024.

The measure stated that in the proposed national budget for 2024, SUCs were given P100.88 billion, which is lower by P6.1 billion or 5.75 percent from this year’s P107.03 billion.

“Thirty of the 118 SUCs are set to incur cuts in their overall budget, wherein 10 SUCs have cuts to their