Bontoc, Mtn. Prov. – The provincial office of the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) conducted a stakeholders’ forum on the irrigation development in this province last January 31, 2018 at the Archog Hotel and Restaurant, Samoki.
According to NIA-MP, new Provincial Head Engr. Winston Daoas, the forum is a venue for the agency to present its programs and projects in the province and for the issues and concerns on implementation to be tackled.
Engr. Benito Espique, Jr., the Regional Irrigation Manager of NIA, referred to the forum “for the offices and organizations to give all-out support to the NIA to ensure faster and better implementation of its various irrigation projects and the provision of sustainable and reliable irrigation service in the province”.
During the event, Atty. Cyphrine Dalog, representing Congressman Allen Jesse Mangaoang, caretaker of the province, relayed that the Office of the Congressman commits to continue supporting these projects because we have confidence in the capacity of NIA as a professional and efficient irrigation agency. . . for the improvement of our farmers’ quality of life”.
“We wish to continue supporting the development of irrigation tin the province”, she added.
The NIA have been implementing irrigation projects in the province that resulted in the maintenance and enlargement of irrigation service areas and improvement of the lives of the people.
A covenant was entered into by and between the NIA and the stakeholders that spelled, among others, the commitment to assist NIA in resolving problems that delay project implementation such as in right-of-way, peace and order, issues on indigenous peoples, conflicts among water-users, and other problems.
There were reports that indicated some project implementation have been hindered due to right-of-way problems and others.
“We hereby resolved to bind ourselves to the foregoing commitments to maximize irrigation development programs for the improvement of the socio-economic lives of the people of the province in general and the farmer-irrigators in particular”, indicated in the Covenant.
The stakeholders are further called to commit to provide NIA with valuable recommendations, timely and truthful feedbacks in line with the comprehensive irrigation development in the province.
In attendance during the program were Governor Bonifacio Lacwasan, PSSupt. Allen Ocden, and representatives of the Army and irrigators’ organizations.**Roger Sacyaten
