NIA’s No. 2 official quits amid rifts, controversies

By Sheen Crisologo

CABANATUAN CITY, Nueva Ecija — A senior executive of the National Irrigation Administration has tendered his resignation in the midst of a rift between some NIA officials and its employees association.

Saying he was “bothered by issues confronting (the) NIA,” Felix Razo, acting senior deputy administrator, recently submitted his resignation letter to Agriculture Secretary Proceso Alcala.

Razo is the second highest at the NIA, headed by Administrator Claro Maranan, who previously occupied

Razo’s post before replacing Antonio Nangel as administrator last July. Lorna Grace Rosario, NIA deputy administrator for finance, said it is Razo’s right to resign if he so desires while Maranan withheld any comment.

In his resignation letter, Razo told Alcala that the agency is now confronted with a nationwide controversy regarding the alleged anomalies and irregularities committed by three executive officials.

These allegations are contained in a manifesto and recent mass actions by the NIA Employees Association of the Philippines and three other groups that have been calling on Malacañang for an investigation.

The Office of the President is already investigating the allegations.

But Razo said that while Alcala’s office already conducted a dialogue with the concerned parties, the controversy is “negatively impacting on the integrity and credibility of the entire management team” of the NIA.

“Such unavoidable scenario has already cast serious doubt if the top management can still effectively and efficiently manage and govern the agency. Worst, there is already animosity, distrust and infraction amongst us. It appears that no solutions are in sight to mend fences among those with differing stance,” he said.