SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga — The Regional Development Council 3 (RDC3) disclosed Sunday the approval of a fund of at least P4.3 billion for the component of the National Irrigation Sector Rehabilitation and Improvement Project (NISRIP) of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) in Central Luzon.

“The NISRIP aims to contribute in attaining self-sufficiency in rice produced through the restoration of original function and capacity of National Irrigation Systems (NIS) and strengthening institutional capacity and effecting Irrigation Management Transfer (IMT),” said the RDC3.

The P4.3-billion project has two major components namely Hard or Engineering, which involves infrastructure facilities rehabilitation; and Soft or Non-Engineering which includes institutional strengthening of NIA and Irrigators Associations towards a successful IMT and agricultural support.

It covers 32 NISs across the archipelago with an estimated total service area of 86,840 hectares.

The component of NISRIP in the region consists of the lahar-affected Porac-Gumain Irrigation System with a service area of 3,126 hectares and project development cost of P359 million or P115,000 per hectare.

RDC 3 is the highest policy-making body in Central Luzon and serves as the counterpart of the NEDA Board at the subnational level.

It is the primary institution that coordinates and sets the direction of all economic and social development efforts in the region and serves as a forum where local efforts can be related and integrated with national development activities.

Council members include all Governors, City Mayors, Municipal Mayors of Capital Towns, Presidents of Municipal Mayors League, Regional Directors of National Government Agencies and representatives from the private sector.