In line with the agency’s commitment to provide efficient, effective, and sustainable irrigation services, the National Irrigation Administration, Zamboanga Sibugay Irrigation Management Office (ZSIMO) of Region 9 proposes for the Olutanga Island National Irrigation Project (NIP) Feasibility Study.
Hence, a Joint Coordination Meeting between the National Irrigation Administration (NIA), Local Government Unit (LGU), and Department of Agriculture (DA) for the Proposed Olutanga Island NIP Pre-Feasibility Study was conducted on June 13, 2022 at the Talusan Training Center, Poblacion, Talusan, Zamboanga Sibugay.
The proposed Olutanga NIP has a total potential area of 2,790 hectares. 1,690 hectares of which are rice land, while 1,100 hectares are High Value Crops and other Diversified Products. The Olutanga Island NIP will cover three (3) municipalities namely Mabuhay, Talusan, and Olutanga, Zamboanga Sibugay, covering 51 barangays, with a potential 2,035 farmer beneficiaries.
Present during the meeting are the management and other officials of the NIA-9 Regional Office headed by Acting Manager Salome N. Layasan, and the management and technical staff of NIA -9 Zamboanga Sibugay IMO headed by Engr. Girlie M. Detalla. Also present are the different Local Government Officials of the three municipalities mentioned, and also representatives from the Department of Agriculture.
During the meeting, NIA discussed the details and works incorporated in the project. All the participating institutions were given the opportunity to give their message as well as to raise questions and concerns which were all addressed and properly responded before the meeting ended.
At the end, the NIA, DA, and LGUs all committed to give their effort, support, and assistance to complete the Pre-Feasibility Study of Oluntanga NIP so as to proceed to the next steps until its full implementation.
The proposed Olutanga NIP will not just aide the farmers in their irrigation needs, but it will also result to higher yield in the Island’s rice and high-valued and diversified crops production. Thus, boosting the economy not only of the Olutanga Island, but of the Zamboanga Sibugay province as a whole.