LOOK: Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet Peter Laviña takes oath as new NIA Administrator (Photo: Diao Nino Angelo) | @dzmmRP45 pic.twitter.com/u1h0YBmqHe

— ABS-CBN News (@ABSCBNNews) December 6, 2016

MANILA - Deputy Cabinet Secretary Peter Laviña on Tuesday took his oath as the new National Irrigation Authority (NIA) administrator.

A former campaign spokesman of President Duterte, Laviña took his oath of office before Cabinet Secretary Leoncio Evasco.

Laviña said he will push for free irrigation to boost the country's rice self-sufficiency, as well as the use of hydro-power resources to provide electricity to far-flung villages.

Before Laviña's stint as campaign and transition committee spokesperson, he first worked as a special assistant to then Davao City Mayor Duterte. Laviña eventually ran and won as councilor of Davao City.

Laviña's wife, Evelyn, was earlier appointed as undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture (DA).

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DA Secretary Emmanuel Piñol earlier had a spat with former NIA officials and called for their resignation after some administrators issued a statement that said "Duterte's promise of free irrigation water for the farmers would adversely affect the operations of the agency."

"The issue of free irrigation for the Filipino farmers is a presidential commitment and it is non-negotiable," he said.

Czar Sulaik, an engineer from Maguindanao, will sit as NIA Deputy Administrator for Operations, Piñol said.

Sulaik was the provincial irrigation officer of North Cotabato during Piñol's term as the province's governor. -- Report from Dexter Ganibe, DZMM