NIA-UPRIS Division II personnel issue certificate of ISF exemptions to qualified farmers. Contributed photo
TALAVERA, Nueva Ecija – The National Irrigation Administration-Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation System Division II continues to distribute certificate of exemptions from irrigation service fees (ISF) to qualified farmers, the agency said Tuesday.
In the first four months of this year, the division distributed a total of 598 of these certificates covering a land area of 934.32 hectares. This, even as a total of P196,909.30 was collected as of May 25, 2022.
Engr. Alvin L. Manuel Sr., division manager, said the distribution of such certificates is being done in line with the implementation of RA 10969 otherwise known as the Free Irrigation Service Act.
“As the agency firmly promotes the implementation of RA 10969, the Division II billing and collection unit also pursues the conduct of related activities in the implementation of said law,” the agency said in a statement.
“The unit also conducts serving of bills for the corporate accounts, and collection of irrigation service fee payments for current and back accounts as supervised by administrative section chief Isidorie J. Sayson in coordination with the unit head, Amelia V. Quimson,” it added.
The law provides that farmers with eight hectares or less of landholding are exempted from paying ISF for water supplied by the national irrigation system and communal irrigation system established by NIA and other government agencies.
Manuel and UPRIIS department manager Rosalinda B. Bote “strongly support the programs of billing and collection unit to continuously cater to the needs of the farmer-clientele,” it added.
