Senator Imee Marcos lamented the slow pace of irrigation development in the country.
During Senate committee on finance’s public hearing, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. called the target of achieving full irrigation by 2053 unacceptable.
“We cannot wait for 2053 or 30 years for full irrigation to provide rice sufficiency,” she said, addressing concerns over the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) proposed P42.57 billion 2025 budget.
The presidential sister pointed out that much of the country’s irrigable land remains untapped, threatening rice production due to climate change.
Despite allocated funds, Marcos said that NIA’s slow spending has delayed vital irrigation projects.
She urged the agency to explore foreign funding, climate change financing, and fast-track procurement to speed up progress.
The senator from Ilocos Norte also proposed Public-Private Partnerships and Official Development Assistance to enhance irrigation efforts, aiming for the country to achieve rice sufficiency well before 2053.IMT
