NIA-6 drones purchase met with criticism

ILOILO CITY — Controversy has again mired the 111.2-billion megadam project of the Aquino administration in Calinog town, Iloilo province with the proposed acquisition of drones by the National Irrigation Administration in Western Visayas (NIA-6).

NIA-6 has been criticized in trying to purchase two sets of drones at a cost of 15.8 million.

NIA-6 Regional Manager Gerardo Corsiga said the initial bidding has failed for the two drones that NIA-6 claims it needs to monitor and survey the Jalaur River Multipurpose Project-Stage II (JRMP-II), touted as the biggest dam project outside of Luzon.

“We don’t have enough engineers or surveyors to cover 32,000 hectares,” Corsiga explained.

Engr. Jonel Borres, JRMP-II principal engineer, disclosed that NIA-6 is calling for rebidding after only two bidders joined and did not qualify.

Borres reiterated that the two sets of drones NIA-6 will purchase have other capabilities. Borres claims the drones are not only equipped with camera that can take both video footages and photographic images, but also has features Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Global Positioning System (GPS).

When asked what specifications NIA-6 is looking for that is different from ordinary drones, both Corsiga and Borres did not divulge.

NIA-6 could not also explain how it came up with an approved budget contract of 15.8 million for the two drones.

JRMP-II has a loan of 18.9 billion from the South Korea Economic De- velopment Cooperation Fund while the remaining 1 2.2 billion is the counterpart funding of the national government.

JRMP-II has been planned to be finished before President Benigno S. Aquino III steps` down on June 30, 2016. However, none of the three dams or its reservoir has been built.