The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) has acquired 95 units of light and transport equipment worth P155.315 million for the monitoring and evaluation of the status of its ongoing construction and operations and maintenance activities.
The light and transport equipment was turned over by the winning bidder, CT Citimotors—Mitsubihi Motors Philippines Corp., to NIA’s top management officials last June 21.
The purchase of light/transport and heavy equipment is part of the three-year re-fleeting program of the agency from calendar year (CY) 2017. For CY 2017, NIA purchased 34 units of light/transport vehicles and 17 units of heavy equipment.
For CY 2018, NIA acquired 91 units of light/transport vehicles and 18 units of heavy equipment. Meanwhile, five units of heavy equipment and 91 units of light/transport vehicles were set for procurement in 2019.
As of December 31, 2020, NIA maintained in operating condition 3,201 units of heavy, light/transport, other support, and special equipment in support to the operations and maintenance of irrigation systems nationwide.
The agency also said 622 units of equipment are non-operable or needing repair while 1,382 units of equipment are recommended for disposal. Thus, the three-year re-fleeting program is expected to make NIA operations more efficient and reliable.
Preceding the handover ceremony of equipment was the handover of 319 units of shotgun and ammunition from Trust Trade Inc., represented by Ms. Marinyl S. Belino, to NIA Administrator Ricardo R. Visaya. The administrator then turned over the shotguns to the Civil Security Affairs Office, headed by Engr. Eusebio S. Villamanto.