PALAYAN CITY—Government and farmers groups have rejected the proposed privatization of irrigation services.
Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala said such move would impair food security.
“We are not supporting that,” he said, noting that the department was already into an early planting campaign, so “how could private entities support this program?”
National Irrigation Administration head Antonio Nangel agreed with Alcala.
“The private sector has a different interest,” he told Manila Standard, noting that the agency still had to develop 1.5 million hectares to maximize farm yield.
“The most important is how can we improve the production of farmer beneficiaries and maximize our resources by using new technology of renewable energy and potable or domestic water supply,” Nangel said.
Alcala was joined by Nueva Ecija Governor Aurelio Umali, 3rd district Rep. Czarina Umali and Nangel along with NIA-UPRIIS operation manager Josephine Salazar to distribute agriculture implements and assistance at the capitol.
Beneficiaries received 50 hand tractors, 20 threshers, 4 four-wheel tractors, 3 rice reapers, 3 seed cleaners among other equipment.
“The Aquino administration’s farm mechanization program aims to uplift the lives of agriculture workers and meet food sufficiency,” he said, vowing a stop to rice importation by next year. –Ferdi G. Domingo, Manila Standard Today
June 2025
Philippine Environment Month!
“Action for Nature, for the Future!”
Invoke Article 33 of the ILO Constitution
against the military junta in Myanmar
to carry out the 2021 ILO Commission of Inquiry recommendations
against serious violations of
Forced Labour and Freedom of Association protocols.
Accept National Unity Government (NUG)
of Myanmar. Reject Military!
#WearMask #WashHands #Distancing #TakePicturesVideosturesVideos
Monthly Observances:
1 Jun – World Day of Parents
5 Jun – World Environment Day
7 Jun – World Food Safety Day
8 Jun – World Oceans Day
12 Jun – World Day Against
Child Labour
15 Jun – World Elder Abuse Awareness Day
16 Jun – International Day of Family Remittances
17 Jun – World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought
20 Jun – World Refugee Day
25 Jun – Day of the Seafarer
27 Jun – Micro-, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Day
Daily Observances:
First Saturday of July:
International Cooperative Day
in the Philippines
