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Inauguration & Turn-over Ceremony Of Limpapa SIP CY 2019

In spite being impacted by the pandemic, challenges have been managed on the observance of the new normal.

Today, NIA R9 ZAMBASULTA RSO successfully inaugurated and turned-over the constructed intake structure, ground level reservoir and pipe laying at LIMPAPA SIP.

The ceremony was lead by the ZRSO Acting Manager Engr. Robert Berni L. Rada II with the support of the IDS Head Leni S. Enriquez, PIC Joselito T. Falcasantos, IDO Jameson B. Atilano. Joined by the Officials/BOTs & members of Limpapa HVC Farmers Irrigators' Association and Barangay Limpapa Officials and staff.

Amongst the guests were Hon. Halima J.Apalad (Limpapa Brgy. Chairman, Mr. Nasser J. Abdulla (IA President), Hon. Elorde Amalan (Brgy. Kagawad) and Mr. Vie Jay M. Eullaran (Office of the City Agriculture Representative).

As quoted by Engr. Rada, "that upon his assumption at the office of ZAMBASULTA RSO, this is his first completed project in which he was hands on from the start of the project."

Meanwhile, the IA President as well as the Brgy. Chairman expressed their gratitude on the irrigation project and look forward for more in the future. Likewise, the Office of the City Agriculture offered their technical assistance and seedlings to the farmers to best utilize the purpose of the irrigation project.

 

Solar Pump Irrigation Project in Zamboanga City

The Solar Pump Irrigation Project of NIA Region 9 in Zamboanga City, being the first solar-powered irrigation in the whole region, is situated in barangay Mercedes, Zamboanga City, and can irrigate five (5) hectares of agricultural land which will benefit poorly irrigated and rain-dependent farmers in the area.

It is a community development project initiated by Congressman Manuel Jose “Mannix” M. Dalipe, 2nd District Representative of Zamboanga City, with a total project cost of Php5 million. The construction is under the supervision of Zamboanga Basilan Sulu Tawi2x Regional Sub-Office (ZAMBASULTA RSO) Acting Head, Engr. Robert Bernie L. Rada II.

This adoption to new methodology is one of the Region’s initiative to enhance water sufficiency and increase economic advantage for farmers particularly in barangay Mercedes, which is considered as the biggest rice granary in Zamboanga City.

The solar powered centrifugal pump gets its water source from a spring and can pump an average of 170 cubic meter in six (6) hours. The irrigation system is powered by 28 solar panels that can discharge approximately 200 gallons per minute. The system is also equipped with surveillance cameras and fortified with security fence so as to ensure utmost safety and security measures.

On September 15, 2020, technicians and personnel of ZAMBASULTA RSO together with the contractor and officers of Mercedes Culianan Cabaluay Talabaan Irrigators Association (MCCT IA) performed a successful post construction test run. With confidence of a positive outcome of this project, the officers of MCCT IA expressed their gratitude for this opportunity as it will maximize the use of their farmland through sufficient water supply. Moreover, this will increase their yield as it will enable them to better strategize planting and harvesting to avoid adverse weather conditions. The official Turn-over of the said project to MCCT IA is scheduled mid of October 2020.

The fully constructed Solar Pump Irrigation Project in Mercedes is just one of the innovative irrigation programs of the Region. Within this year, five more similarly constructed projects are expected to be fully completed, specifically Manicahan II Small Irrigation Project (SIP), Manga II SIP, Boalan II SIP, Bolong II SIP, and Buenavista Pump Irrigation System (PIS) with 53.83%, 53.13% 50.21%, 45.62%, 27.38% completion as of September 10, 2020 respectively.

Along with continuous enhancement on innovative irrigation, NIA Region 9 with the support of Regional Manager Rory F. Avance, works hand in hand with IAs, contractors, LGU, and other stakeholders in fulfilling its vision towards improving the quality of life of Filipino farmers.

 

Engr. Rory F. Avance is the new Regional Manager of NIA Region 9

Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur – National Irrigation Administration (NIA) Region IX has a new regional manager in the person of Engr. Rory F. Avance who officially assumed office on November 14, 2019 in a turnover ceremony held at NIA Regional Office IX Covered Court, this municipality.

The turnover of regional leadership from Engr. Mario H. Sande to the new regional manager was presided by NIA Administrator Gen. Ricardo R. Visaya (Ret). Other top officials from NIA Central Office also attended the said turnover including Deputy Administrator for Administrative and Finance, MGen Romeo G Gan, head of the Inspection and Assessment Team (IAT), PBGen Asher M. Dolina, Security and Management Consultant for Western Mindanao, Gen. Mayoralgo dela Cruz and visitors from NIA Region 12.

Manager Sande who served the Zamboanga Peninsula region for the past two (2) years is also the current President of NIA Association of Regional Directors and Operations Managers (ARDOMA). He previously served the now dissolved NIA Negros Island Region as Regional Manager prior to his assignment in Region IX. He also briefly served NIA Region 2 for eight (8) months and NIA Region 7 for two (2) years both as Regional Manager since his rising from the ranks in his home region, Region 12. He is set to officially bow out of government service on December 27, 2019 at the age of 65, the compulsory age for retirement. He has served the agency for a total of 41 years.

“My sincerest thanks to NIA top management and all employees of Region IX for the support you have extended during my term, it is expected that the same kind of support will be given to the new regional manager,” the outgoing manager said.

Meanwhile, newly installed manager Engr Avance also hails from Region 12. He rose from the ranks with his humble beginnings in NIA Region 12 as irrigation engineer some 33 years back. He was the Engineering and Operations Division Manager of NIA Region 12 prior to his promotion as regional manager. The 58-year-old manager is a native of Midsayap, Cotabato with Ilonggo and Cebuano descent.

“As a newly installed regional manager gusto kong hikayatin ang lahat ng empleyado na samahan ninyo akong mag-isip para sa ikabubuti ng Region IX in so doing I find no reason why we will fail,” the new manager’s call-to-action delivered during his acceptance speech.

NIA Administrator Visaya in his message also thank the outgoing manager for his dedicated service to the agency and assured his full trust and confidence to the newly installed manager. He concluded his message sharing the 11 military principles on leadership: (1) Know yourself and seek self-improvement; (2) Be technically and tactically proficient; (3) Develop a sense of responsibility among subordinates; (4) Make sound and timely decisions; (5) Set an example; (6) Know your people and look out for their welfare; (7) Keep your people informed; (8) Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions; (9) Ensure assigned tasks are understood, supervised, and accomplished; (10) Train your people as a team; and lastly (11) Employ your team in accordance with its capabilities.

Inspectorate and Assistance Team visits the island provinces projects of NIA Region IX

Zamboanga City – National Irrigation Administration Central Office (NIA CO) Inspectorate and Assistance Team (IAT) visited the island provinces of Basilan, Sulu and Tawi-tawi collectively known as BASULTA on November 4-8, 2019 as part of their two-week project inspection in NIA Region IX. During its entry conference on November 4, 2019 at L’ Meridian Hotel, Zamboanga City, Col. Rogelio R Percol who spearheaded the said field inspection emphasized the objective of the group to provide guidance as well as opportunities for improvement should deficiencies in the project implementation are found. The IAT was divided into two (2) groups to cover the entire region which has 100 irrigation projects in CY 2019 alone. Projects to be visited were randomly pre-selected by the group which also included projects from previous years both ongoing and completed.

The region’s Security and Management Consultant, Gen Mayoralgo dela Cruz (Ret) played an important role in coordinating with the military forces to secure the sites to be visited as well as the personnel conducting the project inspection. Courtesy visits to the Armed Forces of the Philippines’ West Mindanao Command headquarters in Zamboanga City and to the 11th Infantry Division Philippine Army in Jolo, Sulu were done accordingly, a convergent and monumental effort in establishing a strong linkage with the military sector especially in areas where project implementation become very difficult due to security threats such as the case of BASULTA.

Optimizing the visit, a stakeholders’ meeting and mass turnover ceremony of irrigation projects was conducted at Beach Side Inn, Bongao, Tawi-tawi on November 7, 2019 following the project inspection in the area. A total of 78 stakeholders in attendance including Irrigators’ Association (IA) officers graced the said event which culminated in the signing of the covenant of support for the irrigation development of the island. The three (3) projects turned over were the Maalum Magsagao Communal Irrigation System (CIS), Guma Small Irrigation Project (SIP), and Sumangat-Sillubog CIS amounting to a total project cost of 40 M with a total service area of 208 hectares and to serve 51 farmer-beneficiaries. IA Presidents Nasser A. Dammang, Malik H. Mulok, and Kamruddin S. Salahuddin received the key of responsibility, respectively.

Regional Manager Mario H Sande, who is set to retire this year also joined the inspectorate team together with other key officials of NIA IX. Due to the unstable peace and security situations of the island provinces particularly in Sulu, Manager Sande was the first Regional Manager in NIA Region IX history who have completed the BASULTA project visit.

The IAT is set to conduct their exit interview on November 14, 2019 at NIA Regional Office in Labangan, Zamboanga del Sur with the presence of NIA Administrator Ricardo R Visaya (Ret) and other NIA higher ups. NIA Region IX is the last region to be visited by the group since their inception in 2017.

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