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Negros irrigators optimistic on NIA programs amid Laviña's resignation

BACOLOD CITY, March 1 (PNA) -- Irrigators in Negros Island Region (NIR) are optimistic that the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) will continue to implement programs that can help local farmers even amid the resignation of its top official.

Administrator Peter Laviña, in his Facebook post Tuesday, confirmed that he resigned because he has been the subject of "false" rumors that he received money from NIA contractors.

To spare President Rodrigo Duterte from these embarrassing stories particularly in these times of intensified attacks on him, Laviña said he has left the government quietly.

“I have been vilified in the past. My name used, abused and maligned. Recently, there had been efforts to discredit me again,” he said, adding that “there are rumors circulating that I have asked money from NIA contractors. These are not true,” he said.

Rosemary Caunca, president of the Negros Island Region Confederation of Irrigators Association (NIRCIA), said Wednesday they were surprised by the resignation of Laviña whom they considered as a working man.

Caunca said that in his first months, they have seen the administrator’s good vision for NIA thus, it is unfortunate that he has to leave due to corruption allegations.

“We hope to have a new NIA head who is also capable of working with people in the grassroots level,” she said, adding that amid the impending new leadership in the agency, it will continue to deliver its program and services.

Aside from the free irrigation project, the federation hopes that NIA will sustain its development roadmap mainly aimed at helping local farmers through irrigation.

In his visit to Negros Occidental last January, Laviña said the free irrigation program is one of the four-point agenda of NIA under the Duterte administration.

Others are increasing the country's irrigated land areas, harnessing water resources in hydro energy generation, and strengthening the agency's 10-year development plan.

The President appointed Laviña as NIA head in November last year. (PNA)
LAP/NLG/EPN

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