Marcos places NIA under OP control, reorganizes board

Manila: President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has issued an executive order (EO) reverting the National Irrigation Administration's (NIA) supervision to the Office of the President (OP) from the Department of Agriculture (DA) and reorganizing the composition of its Board of Directors. Under EO 69, inked by Marcos on Sept. 5 and made public on Tuesday, the NIA's attachment is transferred back to the OP 'for policy and program coordination." To recall, EO 168 was issued in 2022, placing the NIA under the supervision of the DA. 'Irrigation management and development is vital towards achieving food security and ensuring infrastructure development in the country, which are among the Administration's priority initiatives,' EO 69 read. 'It is imperative to streamline and rationalize the functional relationships of agencies with complementary mandates, in order to promote coordination, efficiency, and coherence within the bureaucracy.' EO 69 also reorganizes the NIA Board, which will now be composed of a representat ive of the OP; the NIA administrator; the respective secretaries of the DA, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA); and representative of the private sector to be appointed by the President. According to the new EO, the election, appointment, or designation of the chairperson, vice chairperson, and other officers of the Board of Directors shall be in accordance with Republic Act (RA) 10149 or the Governance Commission for Government-Owned or -Controlled Corporations (GOCC) Governance Act of 2011. Before the issuance of EO 69, the DA secretary chaired the NIA Board of Directors, while the NIA administrator served as vice chairperson. Other members include the DPWH, NEDA, the National Power Corp. (Napocor), and a representative of the private sector, representing the rice and corn industry. The new EO removes Napocor as board member. EO 69 takes effect immediately. Source: Philippines News agency