NIA welcomes former DENR exec as its full-fledged administrator
FULL-FLEDGED ADMINISTRATOR: Benny Antiporda, formerly the officer-in-charge, is elected as the National Irrigation Administration’s (NIA) new administrator during the 984th NIA regular board meeting on Thursday, August 18, 2022. (Photo from National Irrigation Administration/Facebook)
MANILA, Philippines – The National Irrigation Administration (NIA) welcomed its new full-fledged chief, Benny Antiporda, after the Board of Directors elected him on Thursday.
Antiporda, formerly an undersecretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), was earlier appointed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to head the NIA in an acting capacity.
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Before his new appointment, former President Rodrigo Duterte had also given Antiporda a seat as a NIA senior deputy administrator.
READ: Duterte appoints DENR exec Antiporda as NIA senior deputy administrator
The NIA, in a statement, said Antiporda aims to “to double up the completed irrigation projects of the agency that can fast-track irrigation development through Public-Private and Public-Public partnerships.”
Known to be tough in his leadership capabilities, Antiporda put into motion the swift closure of illegal open dumpsites in the country by dealing with several local government units to make it possible.
Antiporda was DENR undersecretary for Solid Waste Management and Local Government Units Concerns when he initiated the closure of 355 open dumpsites in the country in 2018, as per Republic Act 9003, or the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act of 2000, which should have been done since 2006.
He was also among those responsible for pushing Proclamation 1052, declaring the National Bicycle Day in the country.
READ: Duterte declares fourth Sunday of November as National Bicycle Day
The DENR official was among those who lobbied hard for the passage of the National Solid Waste Management Commission resolution banning plastic soft drinks straws and plastic coffee stirrers.
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He also plays a major role in the awarding of lands to the informal settlers of Lupang Arenda, whose claims have been pending for 30 years, and had it resolved in three months.
During his stint at the DENR, the island resort of Boracay also underwent massive clean-up and rehabilitation with the joint efforts of the Boracay Inter-Agency Task Force, demolishing illegal structures and reorganizing the sewage system in the beach tourist area.
At the NIA, Antiporda launched the #NIAparasabayan to remind all NIA employees to continue doing their best in the service of the Filipino people.
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