This Office has received reports on the circulation of comments/statements from some sources that irrigation service fee (ISF) is free and shall no longer be collected by NIA because of the enactment of the Agriculture and Fisheries Modernization Act (AFMA) of 1997, Republic Act 8435.

To correct this misrepresentation, all concerned are directed to disseminate the information that there is no specific provision under the aforecited law mandating that the ISF shall be free. The law even mandates NIA to cause the review of the rates and recommend reasonable rates. For your ready reference, Section 35, Chapter 4, Title I of the AFMA is hereunder quoted, to wit:

“Irrigation Service Fees (ISF) — Upon effectivity of this Act, the NIA shall immediately review the ISF rates and recommend to the Department reasonable rates within six (6) months from the effectivity of this Act.”

For immediate dissemination.

Adopted: 29 Apr. 1998

(SGD.) ORLANDO V. SORIANO
Administrator