Manila, June 2 -- President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Monday led the ceremonial turnover of 229 newly procured vehicles and maintenance equipment to various irrigators' associations across the country to strengthen irrigation services and support farmers facing the worsening impacts of climate change.

The equipment - comprising dump trucks, backhoes, excavators, and 17 mini buses - forms the third tranche of the National Irrigation Administration's (NIA) Re-fleeting program and is designed to boost the agency's capacity to maintain and develop irrigation systems critical to agricultural production.

Speaking at the turnover rites in Barangay Wawa, Taguig City, Marcos emphasized the urgency of supporting farmers amid extreme weather cond...