President Benigno Aquino III on Tuesday used the National Irrigation Administration (NIA)’s anniversary celebration as an opportunity to criticize the agency’s employees for their supposed failure to accomplish their self-imposed targets.
In a speech during NIA’s 50th anniversary event in Quezon City, Aquino openly expressed dismay over the agency’s supposed inability to fully irrigate agricultural lands in the country.
“Halos tatlong taon na po tayong magkakasama sa administrasyong ito, at malamang ay kilala na ninyo ako—wala po tayong panahon sa pambobola. Tatapatin ko po kayo: dismayado pa rin ako, dahil hanggang ngayon, lumalabas na kakarampot pa rin ang pagbabagong nangyayari sa NIA,” the President said.
In front of NIA administrator Antonio Nangel, Aquino reprimanded the agency’s leadership for only irrigating 65 percent of the 81,170 hectares of land the NIA set as its target last year.
The President also pointed out the NIA’s supposed inaction towards the Balog-Balog Dam Project in Tarlac, which he said has been pending since 1990.
“Ngayon po, dalawampu’t isang taon na ang nakalipas mula nang planuhin ang proyekto sa Balog-Balog. Ilang administrasyon na po ba ang nagdaan? Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin ito umuusad,” he said.
Aquino further said NIA’s leadership and employees is leaving him with no choice but to closely monitor the agency.
“Tao lang din po ako; hindi ako CCTV camera na beinte-kwatro oras ay kayang magmanman sa kilos ng bawat institusyon ng gobyerno. Pero sa nangyayari ngayon sa NIA, ang pakiramdam ko, kayo pa mismo ang nag-iimbita sa aking bantayan kayo nang maigi,” he said.
The President also urged the NIA to improve its performance in the next three years, and not to treat its targets as mere “decorations on the wall.”
“Sa mga higit na nakakakilala sa akin, alam nilang walang talab sa akin ang anumang pagdadahilan o pagpapalusot. Kaya kung nag-usap tayo, at may ipinangako ka, inaasahan kong tutuparin mo ang binitiwan mong salita,’ he said.
