Incoming Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel Piñol, determined to implement President-elect Rodrigo R. Duterte’s promise of free irrigation, threatened to fire the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) chief when he assumes his post on July 1 if he fails to immediately release water to help irrigate farms ahead of the La Niña phenomenon. “The issue of free irrigation for the Filipino farmers is a presidential commitment and it is non-negotiable. [We should] find a way to make sure it is implemented by 2017,” Piñol said in a statement. Piñol was reacting to the statement made by the NIA spokesperson, who stressed that free irrigation for farmers would adversely affect the operations of the agency. Piñol “Anybody in government who does not share President Duterte’s vision for the Filipino farmer is free to leave and find another job,” Piñol said. “If you find this hard to understand and difficult to implement, I will place [...]
